Haryana’s rising javelin thrower Poonam delivered the performance of her young career at the ongoing Indian Athletics Series-9, clinching the women’s javelin throw title with a lifetime best effort of 52.16m.
The mark not only secured her victory but also saw her comfortably surpass the qualification standard for the 2026 World U20 Athletics Championships, earning the opportunity to compete against the world’s best junior throwers.
The breakthrough performance marks another important milestone in the development of one of India’s most promising young field athletes.
Poonam entered the competition as one of the favourites and lived up to expectations with a series highlighted by her winning throw of 52.16m.
Breaking the 52-metre barrier is a significant achievement at the junior level and demonstrates the steady progress she has made over the past season. More importantly, the throw came under competition conditions, showing her ability to perform when qualification and medals are on the line.
With the World U20 standard now secured, Poonam can focus on preparing for the global stage and further improving her performances in the months ahead.
Bangaon’s Emerging Javelin Factory
Poonam trains at Bangaon under coach Hanuman Singh, a centre that has increasingly gained recognition for producing talented young throwers.
Over the last few years, the academy has quietly built a reputation for nurturing athletes capable of competing at national and international levels. Poonam’s latest achievement is another testament to the quality of coaching and athlete development taking place there.
Her qualification for the World U20 Championships adds to the growing list of successes emerging from the training centre and highlights the important role grassroots academies continue to play in India’s athletics ecosystem.
Bhavya Pilania Secures Second Place
The strength of the Bangaon setup was further demonstrated by Bhavya Pilania, who also trains under coach Hanuman Singh.
Bhavya finished second in the competition with a best throw of 45.49m, ensuring a one-two finish for athletes from the same academy.
Having two athletes from the same training group occupy the top two positions reflects both the depth of talent and the effectiveness of the coaching environment at Bangaon.
With a lifetime best, a national-level title, and a World U20 qualification mark now to her name, Poonam has taken a major step forward in her athletics journey.