Others

India's Sharuk Khan has etched his name in the annals of Indian athletics by shattering the national U20 record in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. The 18-year-old prodigy from Uttar Pradesh clocked an impressive 8 minutes 45.12 seconds to finish sixth in his heat race, securing a berth in the final scheduled for August 31.Khan's remarkable feat eclipses the previous national U20 record held by Rajesh of Rajasthan, who had clocked 8:50.12 seconds at the Federation Cup National Senior Championships in May. Khan's earlier personal best stood at 8:51.75 seconds, set at the Asian U20 Championships in Korea last year.The young athlete's exceptional performance is a testament to his unwavering determination and rigorous training. His qualification for the final places him among the world's elite U20 steeplechasers.In another notable achievement for India, Jay Kumar has qualified for the men's 400m final after finishing third in his semifinal heat race with a personal best time of 46.96 seconds. Kumar's impressive performance bodes well for India's medal hopes in the event.The World Athletics U20 Championships is a prestigious event that showcases the talents of the world's most promising young athletes. India's strong showing at the championships is a testament to the growing depth and quality of Indian athletics.

Avinash Sable, India's 3000m steeplechase champion, has shifted his focus from chasing timings to meticulous preparation ahead of the Paris Olympics. After a disappointing performance at the 2022 Budapest World Championships, Sable opted to train in Bengaluru rather than return to the Indian team's base in Colorado Springs.His decision paid off at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where he struck gold and regained his confidence. However, Sable realized the need to improve his preparation for major events. In the 2022 Eugene Worlds, he qualified for the final but finished 11th due to a slow race. At Budapest, another tactical and slow preliminary heat caught him off guard, resulting in his elimination."This year, the focus has been on preparation, so that I don't run behind but run shoulder to shoulder with the front group," Sable explained. "That's why I started late. I want to cover all the bases in training."Sable's preparation included declining invitations to Diamond Leagues to focus on his Olympic training. He believes that he has overcome his fear of international competition and is now confident in his abilities."I know what it is to compete in international events. I don't have a fear of international competition anymore," he said. "I've learnt to back my decisions. I've not thought about results in the preparation phase. I told myself I will accept all that comes my way, but whatever has to happen should happen before Olympics, not during it."The Paris Diamond League served as an ideal preparation for the Olympics, featuring top runners. Sable finished sixth, breaking his national record with a time of 8:09.91. Kenyans Abraham Kibiwot and Leonard Kipkemoi, who will compete in the Olympics, were also in the race.Sable's focus has shifted from chasing timings to improving his overall performance. "Last year, the target was to get good timing; this year it is the opposite – keep doing your best in training – speed, endurance, final kick," he said.Having broken the national record multiple times, Sable believes that his obsession with timing is over. "I was running for timing and if I didn't get it in one race, I would call up Scott that I want to enter this Diamond League or some other competition," he explained. "But I was losing crucial time to train and it was affecting my preparation for major championships."Sable's goal for the Paris Olympics is to run a race similar to the Commonwealth Games, where he won silver against three Kenyans. "I think my best chances will be if it is a race like athletes running single file," he said. "You are clear about your position. You are able to see others."Sable is prepared for any type of race and is confident in his abilities. "Kuch bhi ho jaaye, jaise bhi race jaaye, uske liye prepare raghenge," he said. (Whatever the race throws up, I will be ready).

Avinash Sable, India's steeplechase star, has shattered his own national record in the 3000m steeplechase at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Paris. Clocking an impressive 8 minutes and 9.91 seconds, Sable finished sixth in the race, but his performance marked a significant milestone in his preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics.Sable's previous national record of 8:11.20, set in 2022, was eclipsed by approximately one and a half seconds. The Ethiopian Abrham Sime emerged victorious with a personal best of 8:02.36, followed by Amos Serem of Kenya with the same time. Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya, the reigning World Championships bronze medalist, secured third place with a time of 8:06.70.This record-breaking performance marks Sable's return to his dominant form, having set his previous national record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. It is the 10th national record for Sable, who hails from a humble farming family in Maharashtra.Despite a challenging season with limited races, Sable has shown remarkable improvement, reducing his best time by approximately 12 seconds. He had previously struggled in the 3000m steeplechase, clocking 8:21.85 in Portland and 8:31.75 in Panchkula.Sable's determination to make amends for past mistakes and deliver a memorable performance at the Paris Olympics is evident in his recent performances. He has adopted a different approach this season, focusing on peaking at the right time.In the men's javelin throw, Olympics-bound Kishore Jena faced challenges, finishing eighth with a throw of 78.10m. Despite his personal best of 87.54m and season best of 80.84m, Jena has had a disappointing season, with efforts below his potential.Reigning Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra opted out of the meet due to an adductor niggle that has been troubling him. Julian Weber of Germany claimed the top spot with a throw of 85.91m, while former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic finished second and third, respectively.

Indian distance runner Gulveer Singh has etched his name in the history books by shattering the men's 5,000m national record at the Portland Track Festival High Performance Meet. The 26-year-old clocked an impressive 13:18.92 in the Paul Banta Memorial race, eclipsing the previous mark of 13:19.30 set by Avinash Sable in 2022.Singh, who hails from western Uttar Pradesh, now holds the national record in both the 10,000m and 5,000m events. He had previously won the 10,000m bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year with a time of 28:17.21 seconds.In the Portland race, American distance runner Dylan Jacobs, a three-time NCAA champion, emerged victorious with a time of 13:18.18. India's Kartik Kumar finished 17th with a timing of 13:41.07, while Sable, who has a season's best of 13:20.37, unfortunately did not complete the race.In the men's 5,000m high performance event, Abhishek Pal set a personal best of 13:41.57 to secure third place.The Portland Track Festival is a prestigious track meet in the United States, attracting Olympic champions, world record holders, and countless Olympians over the years. Singh's record-breaking performance at this event is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication.

Tejas Shirse, India's fastest male hurdler, has embarked on a remarkable journey from his humble beginnings in Maharashtra to breaking the national record in Finland. Despite facing challenges such as living out of a suitcase and overcoming loneliness, Shirse has grown both as an athlete and an individual.A key catalyst in his growth has been Finnish hurdler Elmo Lakka, who shared valuable insights with Shirse. Lakka's advice on taking off from a farther distance and snapping the lead leg with the hamstring has significantly improved Shirse's technique.Shirse has also made technical adjustments to his posture at the hurdles, standing taller and keeping his body forward to maintain momentum. Despite an injury to his left shin, he has managed to surpass his previous best time of 13.60s thrice in Europe.While his coach believes meeting the Paris qualification mark of 13.27s may be unrealistic at this stage, Shirse remains optimistic. He has set his sights on the Olympics, driven by his belief that anything is possible.

India's mixed 4x400 relay team made history at the inaugural Asian Relay Championships, setting a new national record of 3 minutes 14.12 seconds to claim the gold medal. The quartet of Muhammed Ajmal, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Amoj Jacob, and Subha Venkatesan dominated the race, leading in all four legs. Sri Lanka and Vietnam finished second and third, respectively.While the victory was a significant achievement, the team narrowly missed their target of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Only sixteen teams will compete in the mixed 4x400m relay event in Paris, and India currently sits in 21st place in the Road to Paris list of World Athletics.To qualify, India needed to finish in the top 16 by June 30th. Fourteen teams have already secured their spots through the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, leaving only two spots available based on best timings. Czech Republic and Italy currently occupy the 15th and 16th positions, with India trailing behind.Despite the setback, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) remains optimistic. They may consider sending the mixed 4x400m relay team to international competitions before the June 30th deadline to improve their ranking.India will also compete in the men's and women's 4x400m relay races on Day 2 of the Asian Relay Championships. In the Bahamas, the Indian mixed 4x400m relay team failed to make the Paris cut in the heat race of first-round qualifiers. However, both the men's and women's 4x400m relay teams later qualified for Paris during the second-round qualification heat race.

Abha Khatua, a renowned shot putter from Maharashtra, has shattered the national record in women's shot put with an impressive throw of 18.41m at the National Federation Cup Athletics competition in Bhubaneswar. This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous record of 18.06m set by Manpreet Kaur in 2022.Khatua's triumph marks a significant milestone in her career, as she had previously equaled the national mark at the Asian Championships in Bangkok last year. This was her third competition of the year, following throws of 16.59m at the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru and 17.56m at the Indian Open Throws meet.Kiran Baliyan of Uttar Pradesh secured the second position with a throw of 16.54m, while Nayana James of Kerala emerged victorious in the women's long jump with a fifth attempt of 6.53m. James's impressive performance continues her strong season, although she remains some distance from the Paris Olympics qualification standard of 6.86m.In the men's long jump qualification, Jeswin Aldrin finished fifth with a jump of 7.63m, while Aditya Kumar Singh of Madhya Pradesh topped the qualification with a jump of 7.73m. Animesh Kujur of Odisha narrowly missed the national record in the men's 200m final, clocking 20.62 seconds.The final day of competitions promises to be a highlight, with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra set to compete in the men's javelin. Chopra, who recently finished second at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88.36m, will be joined by India No.2 Kishore Jena in the final.