Impressive Abha Khatua smashes women’s shot put National record
Abha Khatua smashed Manpreet Kaur’s two-yearold National mark with a 18.41m eort and claimed the women’s shot put gold medal in the National Federation athletics meet at the Kalinga Stadium here on Monday.
The 28-year-old Abha — who had missed out on a berth in the Indian team for the Hangzhou Asian Games as she only equalled the National record of 18.06m, winning a silver medal in the Bangkok Asian championships after the deadline — found her rhythm to throw the iron ball beyond the National mark in her fth attempt.
Abha clinched gold with an 18.41m e¥ort. K.R. DEEPAK
Abha, who took to shot put in 2018, shifted from West Bengal to Maharashtra towards the end of 2019 because of her employment and switched from glide to rotation technique in 2022, began with 16.39m and improved it to 17.87m. She fouled two attempts,
including a fabulous third throw, before achieving glory. “In the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru, I did not get the right kind of ball and did 17.56m. Here, it was ne. My change in technique has helped me improve. I think I can achieve the Olympic qualifying mark 18.80m,” said Abha.
Animesh Kujur, representing Odisha, recorded his personal best of 20.62 to emerge as the winner in the men’s 200m. The wellbuilt sprinter hailing from Chhattisgarh went past Nalubothu Shanumaga (20.97) in the last few metres and thwarted a strong challenge to retain his lead until the end.
“I am delighted to have achieved my personal best. I used to struggle with my start. I worked on that and knew if I had a good start I could win with a good time. The home environment (of my training base) also helped me,” said 20year-old Kujur, whose previous best was 20.74 in the National Open meet in Bengaluru in last October.
Unnathi Aiyappa, who bagged an Asian under-20 of bronze medal in 100m hurdles, beat local girl Srabani Nanda closer to the nish line to secure the women’s 200m crown with 23.85. This performance helped her qualify for the World under-20 championships.
Nayana James (6.53m) got the better of Shaili Singh (6.34m) to take the women’s long jump gold.
Nithya Ramraj, who had an appendicitis surgery on February 28, clocked 13.14 for the top honour in women’s 100m hurdles.
The results (finals): Men: 200m: hurdles:
High jump:
Decathlon:
Discus:
Women: 200m:
Long jump:
Shot put:
Chanda won the 800m race with a timing of 2:02.62. BISWARANJAN ROUT