In a remarkable display of athletic prowess, the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship held at
Yadav, a rising star from Baghpat, not only qualified for the upcoming Asian Games but also shattered a nine-year-old national record. Initially setting a personal best of 62.89 meters, she surpassed this mark significantly with a throw of 67.02 meters, improving her previous record by over five meters. "I had a knee injury in March while helping my father in the fields, but I made a strong recovery to perform here," Yadav shared after her impressive feat.
Dev Meena and Jyothi Yarraji Shine
Another highlight of the day was Dev Meena from Madhya Pradesh, who also secured his spot for the Asian Games by clearing a height of 5.46 meters in the pole vault. This performance not only earned him qualification but also set a new national record, surpassing the previous mark of 5.45 meters held by Kuldeep Kumar. Meena attributed his success to effective hydration strategies in the humid conditions of the stadium.
Meanwhile, Jyothi Yarraji made a triumphant return from injury, clocking 13.14 seconds in the heats of the women's 100m hurdles, which was enough to qualify her for the Asian Games. She further showcased her speed in the final, winning the race with a time of 12.99 seconds. "I waited for this moment. The same day last year, I got injured, and I was determined not to give up," Yarraji expressed, reflecting on her journey back to competitive form.
Other Notable Performances
In the men's 5000m event, national record holder Gulveer Singh, who recently returned from training in the USA, finished first with a time of 13:52.92 but fell short of the
Overall, the championship not only highlighted individual achievements but also set the stage for the upcoming Asian Games, with several athletes demonstrating their readiness to compete on an international level.
