Sachin Yadav — Asian Championships medallist and World Championships finalist — was spotted watching the men’s javelin throw competition in Patiala.

Also present alongside him was India’s javelin coach Sergey Makarov.

Their presence comes just minutes before Shivam Lohakare is set to take the runway.

Notably, Lohakare has been training under Makarov for the past two months at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium — a preparation phase that now leads into his competition in Patiala.

Shivam Lohakare announced his arrival in style, becoming the first Indian to cross the 80-metre mark in 2026.

In his season opener, Lohakare produced a stunning throw of 81.08 metres on his very first attempt, immediately setting the tone for the year ahead.

The effort places him among the early global leaders this season, as he becomes only the fourth javelin thrower in the world to breach the 80m mark in 2026.

Importantly, the throw also comfortably surpasses the qualification standard for the Asian Games, marking a major milestone in his campaign.

A statement start to the season — and a name Indian athletics fans will be hearing a lot more of.

Remember the name: Shivam Lohakare.

Kirpal Singh won gold in the discus throw at the Indian Open Throws meet with a throw of 58.89m, the best mark by an Indian in the last three years.
Before this, the last better mark by an Indian was also by Kirpal himself when he threw his lifetime best of 61.83m in 2022.
The 33-year-old returned last year after serving a doping ban that was initially four years but later reduced to two years by the NADA Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP).
The Indian Open Throws in Patiala witnessed a standout performance in the Men’s U-18 Shot Put category, headlined by a commanding gold medal win from Nishchay.
Championship Performance
Nishchay secured the top spot on the podium with a personal best throw of 19.78m. Following his victory, he stated that his primary goal for the year is to secure a gold medal at the U-20 World Championships.
The Podium Results
  • 1st Place: Nishchay – 19.78m
  • 2nd Place: Yuvraj – 17.83m
  • 3rd Place: Raihan Choudhary – 17.83m
The Tie-Breaker Decision
The battle for the remaining medals was incredibly close, with Yuvraj and Raihan Choudhary recording identical best throws of 17.83m. Yuvraj was awarded the silver medal because his second-best throw of 17.40m outperformed Choudhary’s second-best attempt, relegating the latter to the bronze.
Tanya Chaudhary won the gold medal in the women’s hammer throw with a best throw of 61.09m at the Indian Open Throws in Patiala.
In January 2026, Tanya won gold in the women’s hammer throw at the All India Inter-University Athletics Championships, registering a personal best of 65.60m.
The throw was better than the current Indian national record (65.25m by Sarita Singh), making it the longest distance ever achieved by an Indian woman in competition conditions.
However, the performance will not be officially recognised, as the All India Inter-University Championships are not World Athletics–certified.
Karnataka’s M. Reddy Sanjana won the gold medal in the women’s U-18 shot put with a best throw of 15.30m.
This is also her personal best, improving from her previous best of 12.84m, which she achieved last year.
She improved by 2.46m .
Only two athletes participated in this event, Reddy Sanjana and Aarti (13.22m). Why were there so few participants?
World-Class Miler Festus Lagat Takes Suspension Fight to CAS
Kenyan 1500m star Festus Lagat has filed an emergency appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following a suspension for whereabouts failures by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). Lagat is seeking an immediate ruling to allow him to compete for Kenya at the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The High Stakes
Lagat established himself as a global powerhouse last season, clocking a blistering 3:29.03 at the Paris Diamond League. That performance ranked him as the fourth fastest athlete in the world over 1500m for the year, making him a major medal contender for the world stage.
The Legal Argument
In a statement to LetsRun.com, Lagat’s attorney, Paul Greene, criticized the Kenyan agency’s approach to the case. Greene claimed that ADAK appears to be on a “campaign to ruin the lives of many athletes” in an effort to prove its toughness to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and avoid being declared non-compliant.
  • The Violation: Whereabouts failures reported by ADAK.
  • The Goal: Emergency clearance for the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
  • The Performance: Ranked 4th in the world (3:29.03 PB) last season.
If the CAS appeal is successful, it could shift the podium outlook for the 1500m at the World Indoors. If denied, it marks another high-profile blow to Kenya’s middle-distance roster amidst increasing anti-doping scrutiny in the region.

The British team has pulled out of the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus, due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

UK Athletics said: “UK Athletics can confirm that, following security advice, we will not send a team to the upcoming European Throwing Cup. Given the ongoing situation in the Middle East and heightened security concerns related to British activity in Cyprus, we believe the unknown risk and potential disruption to the team is too great.

“The team were selected earlier this week and we share our athletes’ disappointment. We wish all involved a successful event and look forward to returning in 2027.”

Athletes who were hoping to compete in the event include multiple British shot put champion Scott Lincoln ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Poland the following weekend (March 20-22).

The small Eastern Mediterranean nation found itself unexpectedly drawn into the aftermath of US-Israeli strikes on Iran when a drone strike hit RAF base Akrotiri there on March 2.

More generally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has cautioned that “terrorist attacks in Cyprus cannot be ruled out”.

In its latest guidance (March 6) the Foreign Office stated: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.”

Khushi Strikes Gold with Massive Personal Best at Indian Open Throws
The Indian Open Throws Competition in Patiala kicked off with a standout performance in the women’s U-20 hammer throw. Khushi dominated the field, clinching the gold medal and proving that persistence pays off.
The Record-Breaking Throw
Women’s U-20 Hammer Throw Results:
  1. Khushi: 49.45m (PB)
  2. Ayeesha: 45.37m
  3. Bhumi: 43.30m
Key Context
Competing at the National Institute of Sports, Khushi’s performance sets a high bar for the start of the season. Her steady progression since 2023 marks her as a rising talent to watch in the Indian throwing circuit.

In 1969, she boldly entered and ran the race at a time when female participation was not recognized, paving the way for countless women in distance running. Her courage and determination weren’t just about finishing the race they were about challenging the norms and breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.

In 1972, Nina’s persistence paid off when she became the first official female winner of the Boston Marathon, etching her name permanently into running history.

Beyond her victories, she inspired generations of women to chase big goals, run without limits, and demand equality in sports.

Nina Kuscsik passed away on June 8, 2025, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of grit, courage, and trailblazing spirit. Her story is a reminder that breaking barriers often starts with a single bold step and that every finish line crossed can open doors for those who come after.

For every runner, Nina’s journey is a powerful lesson in perseverance, courage, and believing in yourself, even when the rules aren’t yet on your side.