Tejas Shirse, despite a close miss on the Olympic standard, showcased his determination and talent at the 63rd Inter-State Athletics Championships. He secured victory in the 110m hurdles, achieving a new meet record of 13.54s on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who began taking the sport seriously only seven months ago, had set his sights on achieving the Olympic standard of 13.27s. While falling short of his target, Shirse expressed his unwavering commitment, stating that he won’t give up on his Olympic dream. He detailed his path toward the Olympics, highlighting his recent national record and his future aspirations.
Haryana’s Sahil Silwal also displayed his readiness for bigger challenges, securing gold in the men’s javelin throw. Silwal, a promising thrower, achieved a new personal best of 81.81m in his final throw.
The highlight of the meet was the performance of the Indian mixed 4x400m relay team. The quartet, consisting of Mohd. Anas, Mohd. Ajmal, Jyothika Sri Dandi, and surprisingly, Kiran Pahal, broke the national record by a substantial margin, clocking 3:12.82s. Pahal’s inclusion, despite the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) previously stating they wouldn’t consider non-campers for relay events, adds intrigue to the situation. Whether this was a one-off instance or a potential pathway for Pahal’s inclusion in the national camp and the women’s relay team remains to be seen.
