The victory comes after a challenging year for the Karnataka sprinter. His 2024 season was derailed in March when he suffered a Grade-2 hamstring tear during the National relay championships, a setback later compounded by the discovery of a blood clot in his tendons. The injury forced him to miss several major international assignments, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the World Relays.
A cautious return to form
Reflecting on his performance, Hoblidhar admitted that while he was pleased to be back on the podium, he had hoped for a faster time. An upset stomach hindered his preparation on the eve of the race, and he opted for a measured approach in the final stages of the sprint. He acknowledged that after such a long period of inactivity, he felt the need to remain cautious to avoid further injury.
Hoblidhar expressed remorse regarding the impact his absence had on the national relay squad’s medal prospects during his layoff. Looking ahead, he remains focused on regaining his peak physical condition, setting a target of clocking 10.00 seconds in the upcoming season. Lalu Prasad Bhoi secured second place with a time of 10.43 seconds, while Laukik Melge finished third in 10.45 seconds.
Notable performances across the field
The second day of the championships also saw several other standout displays. In the women’s shot put, national record holder
Moumita Mandal, who is also working her way back from an injury layoff, demonstrated her return to form by winning the 100m hurdles in 13.48 seconds. In the men’s 21km race walk, Suraj Panwar claimed the top spot with a time of 1:30.48. The event saw drama for Servin Sebastian, who led for much of the race but was relegated to fourth place following a two-minute penalty for a technical violation regarding loss of contact.
