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.