Anushka Yadav smashes hammer throw meet record at 65th Nationals
Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Anushka Yadav didn't just win the hammer throw at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships — she rewrote the record books, launching 66.53m to erase a five-year-old meet mark. With a personal best of 67.02m and an Asian Games 2026 top-five finish already on her CV, India may be watching a future global medallist announce herself.
Key Takeaways
Anushka Yadav (ONGC, 18) threw 66.53m to break the women's hammer throw meet record at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships on 10 October 2026 .
The previous meet record of 64.42m was held by Manju Bala for five years.
Anushka's personal best stands at 67.02m ; she finished fourth at the Asian Games 2026 .
Baranica Elangovan (Railway), Asian Games 2026 bronze medallist, won women's pole vault gold with 4.10m .
The long jump gold went to Mubassina Mohammed (ONGC) at 6.38m , edging Shaili Singh (Uttar Pradesh) by just 1cm .
Championships conclude Sunday with final-day events still to come.
Anushka Yadav, an 18-year-old hammer thrower representing ONGC, broke the meet record at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October 2026, hurling the iron ball to 66.53m — surpassing a five-year-old mark. The Day 3 action also saw Asian Games 2026 bronze medallist Baranica Elangovan clinch the women's pole vault gold with a clearance of 4.10m.
Anushka Yadav's Record-Breaking Series
Anushka announced her dominance from the very first throw and never relinquished her lead. Her full series on the day read 62.21m, 65.75m, 66.47m, a foul, 66.53m, and 65.25m — consistent quality across nearly every attempt. The new mark eclipses the previous meet record of 64.42m, which stood in the name of Manju Bala for five years. Notably, Anushka's personal best stands at 67.02m, and she finished fourth at the Asian Games 2026, signalling she is firmly in contention at the continental level. Haqikat Grewal (Punjab) took silver at 56.14m and Kulvinder (Railway) claimed bronze at 55.22m.
Elangovan Dominant in Women's Pole Vault
Baranica Elangovan of Railway, who won bronze in the women's pole vault at the Asian Games 2026, was a comfortable winner at the Nationals with a best jump of 4.10m. Mariya Jaison (Railway) finished second at 3.90m, while Sindhushree G (Karnataka) took bronze at 3.80m. Elangovan's continued form at the domestic level reinforces her standing as one of India's premier vaulters heading into the next competitive cycle.
Men's Events: Key Results
In the men's 5,000m, Sunil Dawar (Madhya Pradesh) crossed the line first in 14:01.64 seconds, ahead of Shivaji M (Railway) at 14:02.81 and Ajay Bind (Railway) at 14:03.86. The men's High Jump was won by Rohit (Railway) with 2.19m, followed by Jesse Sandesh (Railway) and Aaditya Raghuvanshi (Madhya Pradesh) both clearing 2.16m. Karanveer Singh (Punjab) topped the men's Shot Put with 19.63m. In the men's 4x100m relay, SSCB won in 39.76 seconds.
Women's Events: Other Highlights
In the women's 10,000m, Shampa Gain (West Bengal) won in 35:33.90 seconds, edging Soniya (Uttarakhand) at 35:35.36. The women's Long Jump was tightly contested: Mubassina Mohammed (ONGC) took gold with 6.38m, fractionally ahead of Shaili Singh (Uttar Pradesh) at 6.37m. Ramyashree Jain (Railway) won the women's Javelin Throw with 56.63m. The women's 4x100m relay was won by Railway in 45.56 seconds, and Railway also took the Mixed 4x400m relay in 3:21.60 seconds.
What's Next
With the penultimate day complete, the 65th National Open Athletics Championships enter their final day on Sunday, where further records and selection implications for future international assignments are expected to unfold.
Point of View
But the more significant number is her personal best of 67.02m — already beyond the current Asian Games podium threshold. India's depth in women's throws has been a structural weakness, and a consistent teenage performer at this distance changes the calculus for selectors heading into the 2027 Asian Athletics Championships. The narrow long jump margin between Mubassina Mohammed and Shaili Singh — a single centimetre — also points to a healthy domestic rivalry that should push both athletes toward their international potential.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Anushka Yadav break at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships?
Anushka Yadav broke the women's hammer throw meet record with a throw of 66.53m on 10 October 2026, surpassing the previous meet record of 64.42m set by Manju Bala. The 18-year-old ONGC athlete led from her very first throw of the competition.
Who is Baranica Elangovan and why is her gold significant?
Baranica Elangovan is an Indian pole vaulter representing Railway who won bronze in women's pole vault at the Asian Games 2026. Her Nationals gold with a 4.10m clearance reinforces her status as India's leading vaulter at the domestic level.
What is Anushka Yadav's personal best in hammer throw?
Anushka Yadav's personal best in hammer throw is 67.02m, which is higher than her meet-record throw of 66.53m. She also finished fourth in the event at the Asian Games 2026.
Who won the women's long jump at the 65th Nationals?
Mubassina Mohammed of ONGC won the women's long jump with 6.38m, edging Shaili Singh of Uttar Pradesh by just 1cm (6.37m). Nidhi, also of Uttar Pradesh, took bronze with 6.28m.
Where and when is the 65th National Open Athletics Championships being held?
The 65th National Open Athletics Championships is being held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Day 3 took place on Saturday, 10 October 2026, with the final day of competition scheduled for Sunday.
