Bhubaneswar, June 29: Uttar Pradesh javelin thrower Rohit Yadav produced the performance of his life on the final day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, launching the spear to a massive 87.05m to emerge as India's leading javelin thrower of the season.
The 25-year-old's final-attempt effort not only secured him the gold medal but also elevated him to third place on India's all-time javelin rankings. The throw comfortably surpassed the Asian Games qualification standard of 77.87m and broke the meet record of 84.35m set by Manu DP in 2022.
More significantly, Rohit's effort is currently the second-best throw in the world this season, behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (92.62m).
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, who opened his season with 85.69m at the Doha Diamond League, currently occupies fourth place in the world list.
Rohit's previous personal best stood at 83.04m, achieved in 2023, making Sunday's performance a monumental leap forward.
Rohit Yadav: This Is a Massive Confidence Booster
Speaking to MyKhel after his record-breaking performance, Rohit admitted the throw was the culmination of years of hard work and frustration.
"Today's performance is a massive confidence booster for me ahead of major competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. "
The Uttar Pradesh athlete revealed that he had consistently been throwing between 86m and 87m during training sessions but struggled to replicate those distances in competition.
"I've been crossing distances of 86m and 87m in practice but I couldn't translate those throws during competitions. It was hurting me badly. At the Federation Cup in Ranchi, I achieved my personal best. It felt like I was improving only in centimetres or inches like shot putters. Breaching the 85m barrier gave me confidence. This throw will hopefully help me perform even better in future competitions. "
Rohit's series read 77.71m, 77.63m, NM, 77.51m, 79.40m and 87.05m, with the stunning final effort sealing the title. "I was getting good distances throughout the competition. Yashvir and Sachin were also throwing well. In my last attempt, everything came together and I found the perfect rhythm. "
The thrower added that consistency will be the next focus of his development. "I need to cultivate a habit of crossing 85m or 86m with my opening throws. That will help me perform at my optimum level regularly. "
Multiple Javelin Throwers Cross Asian Games Mark
The men's javelin competition showcased impressive depth as Yashvir Singh of Rajasthan (83.72m) and Sachin Yadav of Uttar Pradesh (82.32m) also crossed the Asian Games qualification mark.
However, with Neeraj Chopra already having secured qualification for both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Rohit has emerged as the strongest contender for India's second javelin spot.
Sreeshankar Returns to Winning Ways
Away from the throwing arena, Kerala's star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar delivered a dominant display to win gold with a season-best jump of 8.38m.
The national record holder was remarkably consistent throughout the competition, registering legal jumps of 8.06m, 8.00m, 8.21m, 8.38m and 8.26m, with only his final attempt resulting in a foul.
His winning mark comfortably exceeded the Asian Games qualification standard of 7.91m. "I knew a big jump was coming today. I was confident my best performance would come in Bhubaneswar because it has always been a lucky venue for me," Sreeshankar told myKhel.
The 26-year-old also credited the strong competition for bringing out the best in him. "It was a competitive field. Shahnavaz and David also crossed the qualification mark. They performed brilliantly and motivated me to push harder. "
Shahnavaz Khan of Uttar Pradesh (8.30m) and David P of Tamil Nadu (8.06m) joined Sreeshankar in crossing the Asian Games qualification standard.
Best Athletes of the Meet
Following their outstanding performances, Murali Sreeshankar and Ancy Sojan, who shattered Anju Bobby George's 22-year-old national long jump record with a leap of 6.88m earlier in the championships, were named the Best Male and Female Athletes of the meet.
Team Championships
Tamil Nadu emerged as the overall champions with 138 points, while Uttar Pradesh claimed the men's title with 71 points. Haryana dominated the women's section, securing the team championship with 82 points.
With several athletes achieving qualification standards across events, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is expected to announce the Asian Games-bound contingent shortly.
