Haryana athlete
The competition began under challenging conditions, with the athlete struggling to find her mark in the opening rounds. The prospect of an early exit loomed large as her first two attempts were ruled as fouls, leaving her on the brink of elimination from the event. The situation prompted an immediate intervention from her coach, Hanuman Singh, who provided urgent technical guidance from the sidelines.
A tactical shift leads to gold
Following the second foul, Coach Singh instructed Poonam to refine her release technique, specifically advising her to adjust the direction of the throw toward the inside and place greater emphasis on her shoulder movement. The adjustments proved decisive, as she successfully landed her third attempt within the sector, effectively securing her place among the top eight competitors and allowing her to continue in the contest.
With the pressure of elimination lifted, Poonam gradually found her rhythm and composure. She eventually produced a best throw of 51.48m, which was sufficient to secure the gold medal. Reflecting on the tense moments, the athlete noted that her primary objective after the initial setbacks was simply to ensure she qualified for the final rounds of the competition.
Building on a resilient career
This victory adds another chapter to Poonam’s resilient sporting journey. In December 2024, she demonstrated similar mental fortitude by winning a silver medal in the under-18 category at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, an achievement that came only days after the passing of her father.
Poonam’s introduction to the sport began in Class 10 at a school in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, where she was scouted by Hanuman Singh. Despite having only three years of formal training, her coach remains optimistic about her future potential. Singh noted that while her current technique is still developing, her capacity for improvement is significant. For the young athlete, the day concluded on a high note, transforming a start defined by red flags into a gold-medal performance.
