ATHLETICS | Anushka, Dev Meena and Jyothi book their Asiad tickets

Eighteen-year-old hammer thrower Anushka Yadav smashed a nine-year-old National record, pole vaulter Dev Meena bettered the National record and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji made a stunning comeback from injury in the National inter-state athletics meet at the Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday.

The evening belonged to an unheralded Anushka, a National under-20 record holder hailing from Baghpat, as she unexpectedly broke the National mark in her second attempt (65.64m). She bettered it in her last throw to log 67.02m, a five-plus metres improvement on her previous best of 62.89m, to qualify for the Asian Games.

Anushka Yadav of Uttar Pradesh poses after qualifying for the Asian Games in the women’s hammer throw during the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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BISWARANJAN ROUT

“I had a knee injury in March while I was handling agricultural equipment to help my father in our field. I made a good recovery to perform here,” said Anushka.

Meena overcame the challenges of competing in humid weather by staying hydrated and booked his Asiad spot with a mark of 5.46m.

Jyothi asserted her class as she timed 13.14 in the women’s 100m hurdles heats to achieve Asian Games qualification before clocking 12.99 in the final to win the race. “I waited for this moment. The same day last year I got injured. I was in no mood to give up,” Jyothi.

Jyothi Yarraji of Andhra Pradesh wins the 100m women’s hurdles in the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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BISWARANJAN ROUT

National record holder Gulveer Singh, who is still acclimatising after returning from his training base in the USA a week ago, ran a slow race in ‘hot’ morning conditions to clock 13:52.92 and emerge victorious. However, he could not achieve the coveted qualification mark.

Altogether 15 athletes qualified in the men’s 800m heats.

The results (finals): Men: 5000m (Asiad Q mark 13:39.18): 1. Gulveer Singh (UP) 13:52.92, 2. Abhishek Pal (UP) 13:54.18, 3. Harmanjot Singh (Pun) 13:54.60; Pole vault (Asiad Q mark 5.45m): 1. Dev Meena (MP) 5.46m (NR, Old 5.45m, Kuldeep Kumar, 2026), 2. Reegan G. (TN) 5.30m, 3. Kuldeep Kumar (MP) 5.20m.

Gulveer Singh of Uttar Pradesh during the men’s 5,000m race in the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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BISWARANJAN ROUT

Women: 5000m (Asiad Q mark 15:36.58): 1. Seema (HP) 16:11.04, 2. Bharti (Har) 16:17.10, 3. Ravina Gayakwad (Mah) 16:32.92; 100m hurdles (Asiad Q mark 13.34): 1. Jyothi Yarraji (AP) 12.99, 2. Nandhini K. (TN) 13.22, 3. Pragyan Prasanti Sahu (Odi) 13.48; Triple jump (Asiad Q mark 13.34m): 1. I. Asha Ilango (TN) 13.89m (NMR, Old 13.72m, Mayookha Johny, 2014), 2. Niharika Vashisht (Pun) 13.22m, 3. Mallala Anusha (AP) 13.13m; Hammer (Asiad Q mark 61.72m): 1. Anushka Yadav (UP) 67.02m (NR, Old 65.25m, Sarita Singh, 2017), 2. Tanya Chaudhary (UP) 61.70m, 3. Harshita Sehrawat (Del) 60.92m.