Shaili third in long jump

NEW DELHI: Teenager Shaili Singh cleared 6.27 metres in the fourth attempt to finish third in women’s long jump in the Indian Grand Prix-4 held in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. In her first meet since her world junior silver at Nairobi last August clearing 6.48m, the 18-year-old competed within herself with four more jumps of six metres or better.

There was lot of focus on the rising Uttar Pradesh athlete and star pupil at Anju Bobby George’s Bengaluru academy. Kerala’s Nayana James, 26, cleared 6.37m in her last two attempts to snatch victory from state-mate Ancy Sojan, 21, who produced three jumps of over 6.25m with 6.35m in her fourth try to briefly lead the competition. Ancy had also won GP-1 in Thiruvananthapuram with a leap of 6.55m.

The taller Nayana, who won last month’s Federation Cup with a jump of 6.67m, cleared 6.30m in her third attempt and looked the favourite from the start before nailing the win. Shaili started with 6.11m without going all out to start with, produced two 6.12m jumps before her best clearance.

Muhammed Anees Yahiya of Kerala equalled his personal best to win the men’s long jump by clearing 8.15m in his fifth attempt. Even his next best, a fourth attempt of 8.02m would have assured victory in a field weakened with his chief rivals, M Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin currently competing in Europe after having qualified for the July world championships in Eugene, US. Sreeshankar pushed the national record to 8.36m in the Federation Cup in Kozhikode last month, where Aldrin produced the best jump by an Indian, but his 8.37m was wind-assisted.

Yashvir shines

The depth in men’s javelin, a glamour event since Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic gold in Tokyo last August, was also on show.

The best in line after Chopra took the podium spots. Rajasthan’s Yashvir Singh threw 82.13m in his second try to win. The 21-year-old had consistent efforts of 77.05, 82.13, 77.96, 78.18, foul and 78.94. Yashvir had broken Chopra’s meet record in the junior Federation Cup.

Rohit Yadav, 21, the UP thrower and also regarded as a promising talent, took second with a best effort of 80.88m. Manu DP, 22, was third with a best throw of 77.66.

Chopra is currently training in Turkey and will open his season in a meet in Finland on June 14.