Record-Breaking Performances at National Inter-State Athletics Championships

Historic Achievements at the Championships

At the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships held in Bhubaneswar, hammer thrower Anushka Yadav and pole vaulter Dev Meena made headlines by setting new national records. Dev Meena, representing Madhya Pradesh, surpassed his previous pole vault record by clearing a height of 5.46 meters. Meanwhile, Anushka Yadav from Uttar Pradesh achieved a remarkable throw of 67.02 meters in the hammer throw, both securing their spots for the Asian Games 2026. This event marked a significant milestone for Indian athletics at the Kalinga Stadium.

Dev Meena's New Pole Vault Record

Dev Meena's impressive jump of 5.46 meters not only broke his own national record but also exceeded the Asian Games qualification mark of 5.45 meters set by Japan. "Improving my national record before the Glasgow Commonwealth Games is a great feeling," he expressed. Despite the tough competition, he was thrilled to enhance his athletic profile.

Anushka Yadav Breaks Hammer Throw Record

Anushka Yadav, at just 18 years old, captivated the audience by breaking both the national and meet records in hammer throw. Her winning throw of 67.02 meters surpassed the previous national record of 65.25 meters set by Sarita A Singh in 2017. "I owe my success to my family for their unwavering support, especially after my injury earlier this year," she shared, expressing her joy about qualifying for the Japan Asian Games.

Jyothi Yarraji's Inspiring Comeback

Jyothi Yarraji, the Asian Games silver medalist and national record holder in the women's 100m hurdles, made a triumphant return after a year-long injury recovery. "It's ironic that I got injured last June, and now, after 12 months of rehabilitation, I am back with a time of 12.99 seconds in the hurdles," she remarked, having comfortably met the Asian Games qualification standard.

Other Noteworthy Performances

In addition to the record-breaking performances, Tamil Nadu's Lasha Ilango won gold in the triple jump with a leap of 13.89 meters, surpassing the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.34 meters. Star distance runner Gulveer Singh also excelled, winning the men's 5,000m race.

Results Overview

Men's Results: 5,000m (Asian Games Qualification Time 13:39.18 secs): Gulveer Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 13:52.92 secs, Abhishek Pal (Uttar Pradesh) 13:54.18 secs, Harmanjot Singh (Punjab) 13:54.60 secs. Pole Vault (AG Q Mark 5.45m): Dev Meena (Madhya Pradesh) 5.46m (NR improves his own national record 5.45m), Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Kuldeep Kumar (Madhya Pradesh) 5.20m.
Women's Results: 5,000m (AG Q Time 15:36.58 secs): Seema (Himachal Pradesh) 16:11.04 secs, Bharti (Haryana) 16:17.10 secs, Ravina Gayakwad (Maharashtra) 16:32.92 secs. Triple Jump (AG Q Mark 13.34m): Lasha Ilango (Tamil Nadu) 13.89m, Niharika Vashisht (Punjab) 13.22m, Mallala Anusha (Andhra Pradesh) 13.13m. 100m Hurdles (AG Q Time 13.34 secs): Jyothi Yarraji (Andhra Pradesh) 12.99 seconds, Nandhini K (Tamil Nadu) 13.22 secs, Pragyan P Sahu (Odisha) 13.48 secs. Hammer Throw (AG Q Mark 61.72m): Anushka Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 67.02m, Tanya Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) 61.70m, Harshita Sehrawat (Delhi) 60.92m.