Annu challenges self with another record in javelin
LUCKNOW: Challenging herself seems to be a habit with javelin thrower Annu Rani. On Thursday, the diminutive athlete hurled the javelin to a distance of 60.01 metre, bettering her mark of 59.87m, set in Hyderabad in July.
In fact, she had a great start, touching 59.37m in her first attempt. Annu crossed the 60m mark in her third attempt to set the first national record at the 56th National Open Athletics Championship. Poonam Rani and K Rashmi finished second and third.
“Even before coming to the venue this morning, I cross-checked my record as I wanted to better it,” an elated Annu told Hindustan Times.
“I could have done much better had the weather conditions been good.”
The 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist had a meet record of 55.80m at the Inter-Railway meet in Bhopal last year, and later set a mark at the Hyderabad National Inter-State Championship.
“I always start afresh. I am my competitor and don’t care about how the rivals are doing,” said Annu, adding, “I still believe I could do much better and I am trying my best for this. Let’s see what happens at the forthcoming Asian Athletics Championship as I want to win a medal there.”
Another one who hogged the limelight on the penultimate day of the event was Delhi boy Tejaswin Shankar, who equalled Services’ Jithin C Thomas’ 2.22m record in men’s high jump, which was set in 2012.
He achieved the mark in his third attempt.
