Jyothi Yarraji, India's national record holder in women's 100m hurdles, claimed the gold medal in the women's 100m race at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2023 in Bhubaneswar on Friday. However, in the men's 100m race, Amiya Kumar Mallick, a national record holder, faced disappointment. But Anjali Devi dominated the women's 400m event and secured her place in the Asian Games.
Yarraji, aged 23, came from behind to emerge triumphant with a time of 11.46s as she beat Asian championships bronze medallist Srabani Nanda. Yarraji accelerated during the latter half of the race but paid the price for a slow start by missing the Asian Games qualifying mark by a mere 0.04s. Srabani Nanda settled for the silver medal with a timing of 11.59s, followed by Himashree Roy, who secured the third position with a time of 11.71s.
Jyothi Yarraji, 100m hurdles specialist has bright chance of medal in 100m flat at 62nd national inter state senior athletics championship in Bhubaneshwar. Final later during the day. pic.twitter.com/QJTV5xEMXH
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) June 16, 2023
In the men's 100m race, Mallick, the national record holder with a time of 10.26s, finished last in the eight-man final, clocking 10.58s. Siva Kumar clinched the gold medal with a time of 10.37s, closely followed by Harjit Singh, who secured the silver medal just 0.05 seconds behind. Elakkiyadassan K won the bronze medal with a time of 10.47s. But none of them could breach the qualification mark of the Asian Games set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) at 10.19s.
MORE: Latest sports betting and odds
It is noteworthy that the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships is the final selection trial for the Asian Games 2023, scheduled in Hangzhou, China later this year.
Anjali Devi dominated in the women's 400m event, securing the gold medal with an impressive time of 51.48s. Having already met the Asian Games qualification mark of 52.96s during the heats, Anjali continued her strong performance by topping the semi-finals in 52.03s.
In the finals, Himanshi Malik and R Vithya Ramraj finished second and third, respectively, with timings of 51.76s and 52.49s. Aishwarya Kailash Mishra claimed the fourth position with a time of 52.79s. All three medalists in this event along with Mishra successfully qualified for the continental meet.
51.48 seconds. Anjali Devi wins gold in 400m at 62nd national inter state senior athletics championship in Bhubaneshwar. pic.twitter.com/uH95Uid5A4
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) June 16, 2023
In the women's 1500m, KM Deeksha secured victory and qualified for the Asian Games with a new meet record time of 4:06.07. Harmilan Bains, the national record holder with a time of 4:05.39, finished second in 4:08.50. Apart from these two runners, Chanda and Pooja also qualified for the Asian Games as the entry standard was 4:15.49.
The men's 800m event saw Krishan Kumar, Muhammed Afsal, and Pradeep Senthilkumar all surpass the Asian Games entry standard of 1:49.05 to secure their Asian Games berth.
Parul Chaudhary excelled in the women's 3000m steeplechase, comfortably beating the Asian Games entry standard of 9:47.00 with a time of 9:34.23.
In the women's discus throw, 2014 Asian Games champion Seema Punia secured gold with a distance of 56.50m but fell short of the Asian Games qualification mark of 57.00m.
Meanwhile, Sheena NV triumphed in the women's triple jump and also qualified for the Asian Games surpassing the qualification mark of 13.58m with a leap of 13.60m, leaving Nayana James to settle for the silver medal.
MORE: Protesting wrestlers want to participate in Asian Games trials
