Anushka Yadav claims hammer throw gold

National record-holder Anushka Yadav added the National champion tag to her name to round up an eventful year, claiming the hammer throw gold on day three of the National open athletics championships here on Saturday.

The 18-year-old Anushka, among the few Asian Games participants to enter this competition, threw to a distance of 66.53m to better the previous meet record of Manju Rani by more than two metres. Interestingly, Anushka, who finished fifth at Aichi-Nagoya, also managed a better throw than her performance there — her Saturday’s mark could have helped her finish one position higher and ahead of teammate and former NR holder Tanya Chaudhary.

Also doing better than what he could manage at the Asian Games was shot-putter Karanveer Singh, taking the top spot with a best throw of 19.63m. Karanveer had finished a disappointing 10th and his performance at the Jawharlal Nehru Stadium, more than a metre more than the 18.40m at the Asiad, would have easily propelled him into the top-four. Railways’ Sanyam took second spot with 18.32m, same as teammate Anurag Kaler but edging ahead by virtue of having the better second-best throw of 18.25m while Anurag’s was 18.10m.

Kiran Pahal, member of the Indian quartet that won the lone athletics gold at the Asian Games, anchored the Railways side here to a comfortable gold in the 4x400m mixed relay in 3:21.60. Kiran, who was the fastest in the individual 400m heats before pulling out of the semifinals, never ceded control once Vikrant Panchal leapfrogged from third to first on the third lap before handing over the baton.

Meanwhile, Bengal’s Shampa Gain completed her 5000-10000m double, adding the second title to her gold in the former on Day One of competition, completing 10k in 35:33.90. Shivaji Madappa was unable to do the same, though, having to be content with silver in the 5000m after winning the 10k on Thursday. However, Rohit took advantage of the absence of Sarvesh Kushare and Aadarsh Ram in the high jump, winning with a best of 2.19m.

The results (Day 3): Men: 5000m: 1. Sunil Dawar (MP, 14:01.64), 2. Shivaji Madappa (RSPB, 14:02.81), 3. Ajay Bind (RSPB, 14:03.86); 4x100m: 1. SSCB (39.76s), 2. RSPB (40.75s), 3. Haryana (41.37s); Shot Put: 1. Karanveer Singh (Pun, 19.63m), 2. Sanyam (RSPB, 18.32m), 3. Anurag Kaler (RSPB, 18.32m); High Jump: 1. Rohit (RSPB, 2.19m), 2. Jesse Sandesh (RSPB, 2.16m), 3. Aaditya Raghuvanshi (MP, 2.16m).

Women: 10000m: 1. Shampa Gain (Ben, 35:33.90), 2. Soniya (Utk, 35:35.36), 3. K.M. Mamta (AIPSCB, 35:38.25); 4x100m: 1. RSPB (45.56s), 2. Odisha (45.57s), 3. Tamil Nadu (46.03s); Long Jump: 1. Mubassina Mohd. (ONGC, 6.38m), 2. Shaili Singh (UP, 6.37m), 3. Nidhi (UP, 6.28m); Pole vault: 1. Baranica Elangovan (RSPB, 4.10m), 2. Mariya Jaison (RSPB, 3.90m), 3. Sindhushree G. (Kar, 3.80m); Hammer: 1. Anushka Yadav (ONGC, 66.53m), 2. Haqikat Grewal (Pun, 56.14m), 3. Kulvinder (RSPB, 55.22m); Javelin: 1. Ramyashree Jain (RSPB 56.63m), 2. Sanjana Chaudhary (Raj, 56.12m), 3. Deepika (Har, 54.07m).

Mixed: 4x400m: 1. RSPB (3:21.60), 2. Haryana (3:22.43), 3. Rajasthan (3:25.54).