Haryana’s Minakshi produces a stunning 54.40m throw as four athletes surpass the previous national record in an extraordinary girls’ U16 javelin competition.

Haryana’s teenage javelin sensation Minakshi delivered one of the standout performances of the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships 2026, smashing the girls’ U16 national record with a massive throw of 54.40 metres, improving the previous mark by an astonishing 7.53 metres.

The previous national record of 46.87m was held by Haryana’s Muskan. Minakshi not only erased that mark but also produced a remarkable series in which all five of her valid throws travelled beyond 50 metres.

But this was not merely a story of one outstanding athlete. In an extraordinary display of emerging Indian javelin talent, the top four finishers all surpassed the previous national record.

Maharashtra’s Rahi Chavan claimed silver with a personal best of 52.02m, while Sahiba Bano took bronze with 51.13m. Somya Dhaka finished fourth with another personal best of 48.65m.

Five Throws Beyond 50 Metres

Minakshi’s winning throw came in the opening round, when she sent the javelin soaring to 54.40m.

She followed it with throws of 51.41m, 51.48m, 53.67m and 51.62m before recording a foul in her final attempt.

The consistency was almost as impressive as the record itself.

Even her fifth-best legal throw would have comfortably beaten the previous national record.

Her performance was especially significant because she had never crossed 50m in official competition before this championship.

From U14 Record-Holder to U16 Champion

Minakshi’s rise has been anything but sudden.

At the 38th National Junior Athletics Championships in Coimbatore in November 2023, she won the girls’ U14 Kids Javelin gold with a national record throw of 44.05m.

She continued her dominance at the 39th National Junior Championships in Bhubaneswar in December 2024, winning another U14 gold with 46.81m.

In October 2025, competing in the higher U16 age category, Minakshi secured gold at the 40th National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar with a throw of 44.97m, defeating Delhi’s Yogita Baisla, who finished second with 44.41m.

Her latest 54.40m performance marks a major breakthrough in her U16 career.

The progression also reflects the work of her grassroots training group in Bangaon village in Haryana’s Fatehabad district.

Minakshi is associated with the Bangaon Javelin Team, where coach Hanuman Singh has helped develop several promising female throwers.

The training programme, which began in 2012, has produced national-level medallists across multiple age categories despite limited infrastructure.

Rahi Chavan: Another Rising Javelin Talent

Silver medallist Rahi Chavan has also built an impressive junior record.

Representing Maharashtra, Rahi won the girls’ U14 Kids Javelin silver medal at the 39th National Junior Athletics Championships in 2024 with a throw of 38.54m, finishing behind Minakshi.

She subsequently moved into the U16 category, finishing fourth at the 2025 Junior Nationals with 42.22m.

More recently, Rahi won gold at the 37th West Zone Junior Athletics Championships, held in Bambolim, Goa, from September 27 to 29, 2026.

Her winning distance of 45.02m was recorded as a meet record.

She has also enjoyed success in school athletics, winning a CBSE National Athletics Championship title in the U17 girls’ javelin event.

Rahi trains at Shree Elite Sports Academy in Pune, Maharashtra, under coaches Lakhwinder Singh and Akshay Singh.

Her leap to 52.02m at the 2026 Junior Nationals represents a significant improvement over her previous competitive bests.

A Remarkable New Generation

What made the girls’ U16 final particularly encouraging was the depth of performance.

For four athletes to surpass the existing national record in the same competition is an exceptional result.

Minakshi and Rahi, both born in 2011, have already competed against each other at successive national junior championships, progressing from the U14 Kids Javelin category to U16 competition.

Their continued improvement offers encouragement for Indian women’s javelin, particularly at the grassroots level.

However, junior success is only the beginning. As these athletes move into older age groups, maintaining technical development, managing training loads and preventing injuries will become increasingly important.

For now, Minakshi’s 54.40m national record and the remarkable performances behind her mark an exciting moment for India’s next generation of female javelin throwers.

Minakshi breaks the girls’ U16 javelin national record with a 54.40m throw at the 2026 National Junior Athletics Championships.

India’s Tanya Chaudhary finished fourth in the women’s hammer throw final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, setting a new personal best of 65.35m with her final attempt.

Her teammate Anushka Yadav also delivered a strong performance, finishing fifth with a best throw of 64.56m.

The results placed two Indian athletes inside the top five in a competitive continental final.

Tanya Chaudhary Sets Personal Best With Final Throw

Tanya saved her best performance for the final round of the competition.

On her sixth and last attempt, she produced a throw of 65.35m, setting a new personal best.

The effort secured her fourth place and highlighted her ability to deliver under pressure.

Her final-round improvement brought her close to the medal positions, although she ultimately finished outside the podium.

Anushka Yadav Finishes Fifth

India’s Anushka Yadav also produced a consistent performance in the women’s hammer throw final.

She recorded a best mark of 64.56m, securing fifth place.

Her result ensured that India had two athletes among the top five finishers in the event.

Zhang Jiale Wins Gold With Asian Record

China’s Zhang Jiale won the gold medal with an outstanding throw of 78.27m, setting a new Asian record.

Her compatriot Zhao Jie claimed silver with 74.83m, while Joy Iris McArthur secured bronze with 68.42m.

Women’s Hammer Throw Final Results

Position

Athlete

Country

Distance

Gold

Zhang Jiale

China

78.27m (AR)

Silver

Zhao Jie

China

74.83m

Bronze

Joy Iris McArthur

—

68.42m

4th

Tanya Chaudhary

India

65.35m (PB)

5th

Anushka Yadav

India

64.56m

India Places Two Athletes in the Top Five

Tanya Chaudhary’s personal best and Anushka Yadav’s fifth-place finish marked a strong showing for India in the women’s hammer throw.

Although neither athlete reached the podium, both finished among the top five in a highly competitive field.

Tanya finished fourth with a personal best of 65.35m, while Anushka placed fifth with 64.56m at the Asian Games 2026.

Tanya Chaudhary throws 65.35m for a personal best in the women's hammer throw at Asian Games 2026

India’s Seema Kaliramana finished fourth in the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. She produced a personal best of 59.88 metres but narrowly missed out on a medal.

Seema improved as the competition progressed and saved her best effort for the fifth round. Despite her career-best throw, she finished behind three athletes who all crossed the 61-metre mark.

Seema Kaliramana Sets Personal Best of 59.88m

Seema delivered a consistent series throughout the final. Her best effort came in the fifth round, when she threw 59.88m.

Her complete series was:

53.67m, 58.40m, 58.18m, 56.89m, 59.88m and 59.81m.

The 59.88m throw improved on her previous personal best of 59.73m, set at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June.

Her performance briefly brought her into medal contention. However, she ultimately finished 1.55 metres short of the bronze-medal mark.

Feng Bin Wins Gold in Women’s Discus Throw

China’s Feng Bin won gold with a throw of 63.69m.

Her compatriot Jiang Zhichao secured silver with 62.25m. Thailand’s Subenrat Insaeng completed the podium with a bronze-winning effort of 61.43m.

All three medallists crossed the 61-metre mark, highlighting the competitive standard of the final.

Sanya Yadav Finishes Eighth in Asian Games Debut

India also had Sanya Yadav competing in the women’s discus final. Making her first appearance in an Asian Games final, she finished eighth with a best throw of 49.90m.

Sanya qualified after a strong domestic season. She recorded a personal best and season best of 56.05m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.

She also finished second behind Seema at the same competition. Sanya threw 56.05m, while Seema recorded 59.73m. Both marks met the Asian Games qualification standard.

India Finishes Without a Medal in Women’s Discus

India ended the women’s discus throw final without a medal. Seema finished fourth, while Sanya placed eighth.

Although Seema missed the podium, her personal best of 59.88m marked a significant improvement. She also recorded two throws above 59 metres in her final two attempts.

Her performance demonstrated the level required to challenge for a medal at the continental event. However, the three athletes ahead of her produced throws beyond 61 metres.

For Seema, the final brought a career-best performance and a fourth-place finish in a highly competitive Asian Games field.

Seema Kaliramna Indian discus thrower

Aichi-Nagoya: Manpreet Kaur became the third Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the shot put, securing bronze at the Aichi-Nagoya Games on Friday with a best throw of 17.17m.

The 36-year-old Railways athlete finished behind Chinese duo Song Jiayuan and Zhang Linru, who claimed gold and silver respectively. Manpreet’s bronze adds her name to a select group of Indian women who have stood on the Asian Games podium in the event.

Before Manpreet, only Barbara Webster in 1951 and Kiran Baliyan in 2023 had won Asian Games medals in the women’s shot put for India. Both athletes had also secured bronze.

Manpreet did not have the smoothest start to the competition. Her opening throw measured 16.32m, leaving her with work to do as the field began to establish itself. However, she gradually found her rhythm, improving her mark with each successive attempt.

The breakthrough came with her fourth throw, when she finally crossed the 17-metre mark with 17.17m. That effort proved crucial and effectively secured her place on the podium.

For Manpreet, the medal comes after a long career at the top level of Indian shot put. Her lifetime best remains 18.06m, a mark she produced in 2022 that was also the Indian national record at the time.

Her 2026 season had already shown signs of a strong return to form. At Indian Series-5 in Sangrur, Manpreet won gold with a season-best 17.33m, producing what was then the best throw by an Indian woman in nearly two years. Her performance was also her best throw in almost three years.

The Indian national record has since moved beyond that mark. Abha Khatua’s 18.41m, recorded in 2024, stands as the current national record according to the information provided.

At the Asian Games, however, Manpreet’s task was not simply about chasing her personal best. She had to remain competitive against a strong Chinese contingent, with Song establishing control of the competition from the very first round.

Song led after her opening throw and strengthened her position with a season-best 19.40m on her second attempt. The performance continued China’s extraordinary dominance in the event at the Asian Games, with the country claiming its 13th consecutive women’s shot put gold.

Zhang Linru completed the Chinese one-two, leaving Manpreet to fight for bronze.

India also had another representative in the final, with Krishna Jayasankar Menon finishing fifth. Her best effort measured 16.57m, putting two Indian athletes inside the top five of the competition.

For Manpreet, the result marks another significant chapter in a career that has spanned more than a decade. At 36, she was able to produce when it mattered most, recovering from a modest opening throw and building her series before finding the 17-metre mark with her fourth attempt.

The 17.17m was well short of her lifetime best of 18.06m, but it was enough to deliver an Asian Games medal and place her alongside Webster and Baliyan as the only Indian women to have won a shot put medal at the continental Games.

After Kiran Baliyan’s bronze in 2023, Manpreet has now ensured that India has won medals in the women’s shot put at consecutive Asian Games.

For the Railways athlete, Friday’s bronze was a reward for persistence and a reminder of her longevity in Indian athletics.

Manpreet Kaur — 17.17m, Asian Games bronze.

At 36, she has added another major medal to her career and written her name into the history of Indian women’s shot put.

Manpreet Kaur Asian Games bronze in shot put
​In a closely contested women’s discus throw final, Brazil’s South American record holder Andressa De Morais clinched top honors with a winning throw of 58.66 meters at the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Event.
The field delivered a compelling narrative, featuring newly minted Commonwealth Games medalists alongside international stalwarts.
​Jamaica’s Samantha Hall, fresh off her historic Commonwealth Games gold medal performance in Glasgow, took silver with a best mark of 58.43 meters—falling just 23 centimeters short of the title. Thailand’s Subenrat Insaeng rounded out the podium positions in third, earning bronze with a throw of 58.33 meters.
​India’s contingent was headlined by Seema Kaliramana, the Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, who finished fourth with a top mark of 57.44 meters. Her fellow Haryana teammates followed closely, with Nidhi Rani claiming fifth place (54.58m), Priya finishing sixth (52.48m), and Sanya Yadav taking seventh (52.00m).
​Further down the final order, Malaysia’s Queenie Ting Kung Ni logged 48.07 meters to finish eighth, Sri Lanka’s J Yelani Abasara took ninth with 40.40 meters, and Nepal’s Amrita Mahato completed the standings in tenth with a mark of 33.52 meters.
​Final Results
​1st Place: Andressa De Morais (Brazil) – 58.66m
​2nd Place: Samantha Hall (Jamaica) – 58.43m
​3rd Place: Subenrat Insaeng (Thailand) – 58.33m
​4th Place: Seema Kaliramana (Haryana) – 57.44m
​5th Place: Nidhi Rani (Haryana) – 54.58m
​6th Place: Priya (Haryana) – 52.48m
​7th Place: Sanya Yadav (Haryana) – 52.00m
​8th Place: Queenie Ting Kung Ni (Malaysia) – 48.07m
​9th Place: J Yelani Abasara (Sri Lanka) – 40.40m
​10th Place: Amrita Mahato (Nepal) – 33.52m

 

Poonam came agonisingly close to qualifying for the women’s javelin final at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, missing out by just one place after a dramatic finish to qualification.

Poonam opened with a throw of 48.81m, a mark that kept her firmly in contention for a place in the final. However, she was unable to improve on it, recording two consecutive fouls in her second and third attempts.

Her opening effort was enough to put her 7th in Qualification Group A and, for much of the qualification round, 12th overall — a position that would have secured the final qualifying spot.

But the qualification battle went down to the wire.

With Group B still completing its attempts, Slovenia’s Živa Križ, who was 12th in the throwing order, produced a crucial 49.22m on her final attempt.

That late effort lifted Križ into the top 12 and pushed Poonam down to 13th overall.

The Indian youngster was therefore left just outside the final despite a solid 48.81m opening throw.

It was a particularly painful exit for Poonam, who was just one position — and less than half a metre — away from making the World U20 final.

 

Amanat Kamboj has qualified for the women’s discus throw final at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 producing a season’s best throw of 52.58m to book her place among the world’s top young throwers.

The 19-year-old from Haryana finished sixth in Qualification Group A and 12th overall claiming the final qualifying spot for the championship final. Her 52.58m effort proved enough to edge into the 12-athlete field after the completion of both qualification groups.

Amanat, one of India’s leading junior throwers, delivered her best performance of the season when it mattered most. The throw highlighted the consistency that has made her one of the country’s brightest prospects in the discipline through a string of strong performances at the national junior level.

China dominated the qualification round, with Yixin Su topping the overall standings with a throw of 58.06m, while compatriot Chenyi Ma finished second overall after registering a season’s best 57.72m.

The World Athletics U20 Championships is the premier global competition for athletes under the age of 20 and has served as a launchpad for numerous future Olympic and World Championships medallists. A place in the final represents another significant milestone in Amanat’s development as she continues her transition towards the senior international circuit.

With qualification secured, Amanat will now turn her focus to the final, where she will look to build on her season’s best performance and challenge for a strong finish against the world’s best junior discus throwers.

By Sundeep Misra

Jamaica’s Samantha Hall produced a commanding performance in the women’s discus throw final at Scotstoun Stadium to capture the gold medal. Canada’s rising talent Julia Tunks claimed silver, while India’s Seema Kaliramna completed a remarkable comeback by securing the bronze medal.

​In a tense contest where several throwers struggled with consistency in difficult ring conditions, Hall delivered a decisive throw of 61.66 meters in the penultimate round to firmly lock up top spot on the podium. The Jamaican national champion, who entered the competition as one of the title favorites, displayed steady poise throughout the series, steadily building momentum before launching her winning mark.
​Eighteen-year-old Canadian standout Julia Tunks pushed Hall early in the competition, launching a distance of 60.67 meters in the second round. That mark held strong for the duration of the event, earning Tunks her first major international senior podium finish with a deserving silver medal.
​For India’s Seema, the bronze medal was a testament to grit and composure. Returning to top-flight international athletics following motherhood and balancing a PhD in physical education, the 27-year-old opened with a fouled attempt before responding with a throw of 57.32 meters in the second round. She elevated her performance further in the third round, recording her best mark of the night at 58.65 meters.
Though fouls hampered her final three attempts, Seema’s third-round effort proved sufficient to keep her on the podium. Compatriot Nidhi Rani finished just outside medal contention in fourth place with a best effort of 57.10 meters.
​”It was very tough getting back to the field,” Seema noted after the final. Her achievement marks India’s ninth Commonwealth Games medal in women’s discus throw history, highlighting the nation’s enduring strength in the discipline.
​With Hall’s victory continuing Jamaica’s strong track and field presence in throw events and Tunks showcasing bright prospects for Canada, the final delivered a thrilling showcase of power and resilience across generations.

 

India will have a strong presence in the women’s discus throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Seema and Nidhi Rani set to represent the country after outstanding breakthrough seasons that have placed them among the leading throwers in the Commonwealth.

Both athletes have achieved significant milestones in 2026. Seema enters the Games with a lifetime best of 59.73m, while Nidhi Rani has recorded a personal best of 58.82m. Their consistent performances throughout the season have earned them places in India’s Commonwealth Games squad and strengthened the country’s medal prospects in the event.

Among athletes selected for the Games, the season rankings are led by Samantha Hall of Jamaica, who has thrown 66.39m. Canada’s Julia Tunks occupies second with 63.58m, while Serena Brown of the Bahamas ranks third among selected athletes with 61.26m. Seema is positioned seventh overall on the Commonwealth season list with 59.73m, while Nidhi follows in ninth with 58.82m.

However, the rankings tell only part of the story. Since the list considers only athletes who have been selected by their respective Commonwealth Games squads, Seema and Nidhi effectively move into the group of the top five medal contenders after accounting for higher-ranked athletes who are not part of their national teams for Glasgow.

The progress shown by both Indian throwers has been one of the highlights of the domestic athletics season. Their personal-best performances reflect consistent improvement and growing confidence against high-quality competition, making them genuine contenders on the Commonwealth stage.

While the women’s discus throw features several accomplished international athletes, Seema and Nidhi have demonstrated that they can compete at a high level. With both arriving in Glasgow after career-best seasons, India has every reason to be optimistic about its chances in the event.

Armed with momentum, confidence, and personal-best form, Seema and Nidhi Rani will look to convert their impressive 2026 performances into success at the Commonwealth Games.

For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026

India continued its medal-winning campaign at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 as Priya Sheoran secured the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw in Ordos, China.

Priya produced a best effort of 50.44m to finish third in the competition, earning another podium finish for the Indian contingent. Competing against a strong field of Asia’s leading young throwers, she delivered a consistent series before her best throw secured the bronze medal.

The gold medal was claimed by China’s Zhichao Jiang, who dominated the competition with a winning throw of 58.63m. Her compatriot Jingru Huang took the silver medal after recording 55.33m, completing a one-two finish for the host nation.

Despite the strong challenge posed by the Chinese throwers, Priya held her own to secure a place on the podium and add another medal to India’s tally at the continental championships. Her bronze-medal performance reflects the growing strength of India’s emerging athletes in the throwing events and highlights the depth of talent coming through the national system.

The Asian U23 Athletics Championships serve as an important platform for young athletes to compete against the continent’s best while gaining valuable international experience ahead of senior-level competitions. Priya’s podium finish is another encouraging sign for Indian athletics, demonstrating the country’s continued progress across field events at the age-group level.

Winning a medal at the inaugural edition of the championships marks an important milestone in Priya’s career and provides valuable confidence for future international competitions. Her composed performance under championship conditions ensured India remained among the medal-winning nations as the competition progressed in Ordos.

With Priya Sheoran’s bronze medal, India further strengthened its medal tally at the historic first edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships. Her achievement adds to an impressive campaign by the Indian contingent and underlines the promising future of the country’s young field-event athletes on the continental stage.