Javelin thrower Annu Rani sets new national record at Federation Cup

Indian javelin thrower Annu Rani stole the show with a gold medal performance at the 24th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships on Monday.

At the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, the Indian international managed a distance of 63.24 metres in her third attempt to better the previous national record of 62.34 metres she had set in 2019.

Rajasthan’s Sajana Chaudhary was a distant second with an attempt of 54.55 metres while Sharmila Kumari of Haryana took the bronze for her 50.78-metre long attempt.

With NIS Patiala showing a steady rise in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, the Federation Cup is being held behind closed doors with only the athletes and the officials allowed inside the campus. 

The tense environment, however, didn’t bother Annu Rani as she started well with a 61.45 metres throw in her first attempt. The 28-year-old, who represented India at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, stayed over the 60-metre mark in the second before managing the big one in her third.

Though the Indian tried to go for the Olympic qualification mark of 64 metres in her next three attempts, it was not meant to be as she had to be content with a national record on the day.

Earlier, the Indian sprint duo of Dutee Chand and Hima Das eased their way into the 100m final scheduled for Tuesday with wins in their respective heats.

While Dutee Chand clocked 11.51 seconds, Hima Das was much slower in winning her heat in 11.63 seconds. Tamil Nadu’s Dhana Lakshmi topped the heats in 11.38 seconds. The Olympic standard for women’s 100m is 11.15.

In the first final of the day, Uttar Pradesh’s Savita Pal won the women’s 10,000 metres title in 33:59.35. Maharashtra’s Sajivani Jadhav, a former Asian Championships medallist, was second in 34:01.26 while Kavita Yadav of UP completed the podium in 34:04.45.

Women’s shot put too saw a surprise winner in Kiran Baliyan of Uttar Pradesh, who beat the national record holder, Punjab’s Manpreet Kaur, for the title. Baliyan took the gold for her effort of 16.45 metres.

Results of the 24th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships

Finals Only: Women:

10000m: 1. Savita Pal (UP) 33:59.35; 2. Sanjivani Jadhav (MAH) 34:01.26; 3. Kavita Yadav (UP) 34:04.45.

Pole Vault: 1. Rosy Paulraj (TN) 3.90m; 2. Pavithra Venkatesh (TN) 3.80; 3. Mariya Jaison (KER) 3.70.

Shot Put: 1. Kiran Baliyan (UP) 16.45m; 2. Manpreet Kaur (PUN) 15.65; 3. Sonal Goyal (DEL) 15.09.

Javelin Throw: 1. Annu Rani (UP) 63.24m (NR; Old: 62.43m, Annu Rani, Doha, 2019); 2. Sanjana Choudhary (RAJ) 54.55; 3. Sharmila Kumari (HAR) 50.78.