The unheralded Sindhushree G. wrote her name in the record books with a shock win over Baranica Elangovan in the women’s pole vault and qualified for the Asian Games on the second day of the National inter-State athletics meet at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

The 25-year-old short statured Karnataka girl — who trained for two weeks with a borrowed pole from a fellow male athlete, who had purchased the equipment meant for women by mistake — relied on her endurance to thrive despite the humid conditions. She achieved the National mark of 4.25m ahead of Baranica, who couldn’t improve upon her previous mark of 4.23m.

“I do 30 jumps in training. I had enough endurance,” said Sindhushree, whose previous best was 4.00m in the Indian Athletics Series in Delhi in May.

Proudly holding a photo of her late father, R. Ganesh, who backed her to pursue athletics before his death in 2022, Sindhushree said, “I dedicate this to my father, who had dreamt of seeing me in India colours.”

Gowthami Jayaraman timed 2:04.17 to upset Pooja Ola and secure the women’s 800m crown.

Animesh Kujur (20.87) made the cut for the continental show-piece in men’s 200m heats before lowering it to 20.74 to win the final.

Harita Bhadra (23.55) and Unnathi Bollanda (23.65) also qualified in the women’s 200m heats before taking the top two places in the final, clocking 23.14 and 23.40 respectively.

Tejas Shirse (13.43) set a new meet record in men’s 110m hurdles. He earned an Asiad berth and bettered his previous meet record (13.54).

The results (finals): Men: 200m (Asiad Q mark 20.88): 1. Animesh Kujur (Odi) 20.74, 2. Dondapati M. Jayaram (Odi) 20.97, 3. Jishnu Prasad P.K. (Ker) 21.18; 800m (Asiad Q mark 1:48.80): 1. Mohammed Afsal P. (Ker) 1:48.57, 2. Krishan Kumar (Har) 1:48.82, 3. Prathamesh Deore (Mah) 1:48.89; Discus (Asiad Q mark 60.13m): 1. Kirpal Singh (Chd) 57.37m, 2. Nirbhay Singh (Har) 55.26m, 3. Arjun (Del) 54.90m; Decathlon (Asiad Q mark 7250): 1. Thowfeeq N. (Ker) 7276, 2. Kushal Mohite (Mah) 7251, 3. Jashbir Nayak (Odi) 7131; Half-marathon race walk (Asiad Q mark 1:25:37): 1. Servin Sebastian (TN) 1:31:49, 2. Sachin Bohra (Utk) 1:32:10, 3. Ningthoukongja (Man) 1:32:24.

Women: 200m (Asiad Q mark 23.70): 1. Harita Bhadra (Mah) 23.14, 2. Unnathi Bollanda (Kar) 23.40, 3. Prakruthi Roopa Rao (Kar) 23.58; 800m (Asiad Q mark 2:05.21): 1. Gowthami Jayaraman (TN) 2:04.17, 2. Pooja Ola (Har) 2:04..37, 3. Lili Das (WB) 2:04.59; Shot put (Asiad Q mark 16.25m): 1. Manpreet Kaur (Har) 17.75m, Krishna Jayasankar (TN) 16.96m, 3. Srishti Vig (Del) 16.96m; Pole vault (Asiad Q mark 4.10m): 1. Sindhushree G. (Kar) 4.25m (NR, Old 4.23m, Baranica Elangovan, 2026), 2. Baranica Elangovan (TN) 4.20m, 3. Nitika Akare (MP) 4.10m.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

Even though Gulveer Singh clocked 13:52.92, well outside the Asian Games qualifying mark of 13:39.18, to win the men’s 5,000m at the National inter-State athletics meet at the Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday, he may still stand a chance of being picked for the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

Since the Athletics Federation of India selection committee will take the final decision, Gulveer has a good chance to get picked on the basis of his consistent performances.

The 28-year-old Gulveer, the 10,000m bronze medallist in the last Asiad and the 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist in the Asian championships, had issues in acclimatising after landing here from a six-month training stint in the USA.

“I used to wake up at 2 o’clock in the night. I have gotten used to it (the time zone), about 50 per cent now,” said Gulveer after finishing his first race in India this season.

“I am not satisfied with the time. It’s hot. The track is new, it’s not gripping well and is bouncy.”

Gulveer, the National record holder in 5,000m and 10,000m, wants to retain his focus on his training, despite the pressure of expectations, and follow his coach Scott Simmons’ advice. 

“I have to take pressure. We are doing our best. God knows what will happen in the future. I am focusing on my training. We are not thinking too much,” said Gulveer, who is eyeing a good time in the 1,500m in an attempt to make his finishes faster. He is focusing on his speed work after a disappointing outing in the Tokyo World Championships.

While planning to compete in two major events, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, this season, Gulveer relies on Simmons. “I communicate with my coach after the events. He will decide how to go about it,” said Gulveer.