Harita Bhadra Shatters Personal Best in 100m Sprint at Indian Athletics Series

Harita Bhadra's Record-Breaking Sprint

Sprinter Harita Bhadra has made history by becoming the second-fastest Indian woman ever, winning the 100m final at the Indian Athletics Series Final held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. Bhadra expressed her joy over her performance and timing, stating that this achievement has significantly boosted her confidence as she prepares for the Asian Games. She is optimistic that her enhanced speed will also aid her in the 200m event, and she is eager to compete with enthusiasm and relish the experience.

"I’m thrilled with my timing. Deep down, I knew I had it in me. This race was about enjoying myself, which allowed me to run freely," she shared with reporters.

"This is a tremendous boost for me as I head into the Asian Games because I can see my speed has improved, which should reflect positively in the 200m as well. I’m content with my current state. I believe the 200m at the Asian Games will be enjoyable since I’ve dedicated myself to training, and it’s now showing on the track. It’s all about going out there and having fun," she added. The 23-year-old athlete from Maharashtra entered the race with a personal best of 11.46 seconds, achieved at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour meet in Bhubaneswar in August. Competing in Lane 6, she surpassed that mark with an impressive time of 11.22 seconds.

Animesh Kujur Clinches Men's 100m Title

Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur delivered a remarkable performance, securing the men's 100m title at the Indian Athletics Final Series with a time of 10.21 seconds, aided by a favorable wind of 1.7 m/s. He finished 0.11 seconds ahead of national record holder Gurindervir Singh, while the race for silver was intensely competitive, with Gurindervir narrowly beating Rushiprasad Desai by just 0.01 seconds.

Gurindervir Singh's Learning Experience

Despite finishing second, Singh viewed the race as a valuable learning opportunity in preparation for the Asian Games. He emphasized the importance of identifying areas for improvement and becoming more reactive and focused to better prepare for the upcoming challenge. "It’s all about learning and gaining experience. I’m not overly concerned about this race; my primary focus is on the Asian Games. I can afford to make mistakes here, but not at the Games. I’m taking this as a learning experience—understanding what I can do better and how I can improve. Hopefully, next time I’ll be more reactive, more focused, and better prepared," Singh remarked to reporters.