Nishchay breaks U18 discus national record at 41st National Junior Athletics
Synopsis
A 16-year-old record fell in Chennai on Monday as Haryana's Nishchay hurled the discus to 66.75m at the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships — smashing a mark that had stood since 2010 and doing so twice in the same competition. It is a generational performance that puts India's junior throws pipeline firmly in focus.
Key Takeaways
Nishchay of Haryana set a new national U18 discus throw record of 66.75m at the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai on 26 October 2026 .
The previous national and meet record of 64.09m was set by Arjun in 2010 — a mark that had stood for 16 years .
Vishal Kumar (Rajasthan, 57.72m ) and Dev Chauhan (Haryana, 55.28m ) won silver and bronze respectively.
Haryana claimed gold in both the Men's and Women's U18 Discus throw events on Day Four.
The championships are being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Chennai.
Haryana's Nishchay shattered the national Under-18 discus throw record on Monday, 26 October 2026, claiming the gold medal at the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. His winning throw of 66.75m obliterated the previous national and meet record of 64.09m, which had stood since 2010.
How the Record Unfolded
Nishchay announced his intent immediately, opening with a throw of 64.72m — already surpassing the 16-year-old national mark of 64.09m set by Arjun. He then extended the record further to 66.75m on his second legal attempt. His third throw measured 64.70m, while his final three attempts were no-marks. The progression within a single competition underlines the exceptional consistency of the young Haryana athlete.
Other Medallists in the Event
Vishal Kumar of Rajasthan claimed the silver medal with a throw of 57.72m, while Dev Chauhan of Haryana secured bronze at 55.28m. The gap between Nishchay and the rest of the field — nearly 9 metres — underscores his dominance on the day.
Day Four Results at a Glance
In the Men's U20 Shot put, Akhand Pratap Singh of Uttar Pradesh topped the podium with 18.12m, ahead of Aryan Satpute of Maharashtra (18.08m) and Abhimanyu Kushwaha of Maharashtra (17.89m). The Men's U18 5,000m race walk went to Lal Krishna S of Kerala in 21:29.76 seconds, with Pawan Singh Gurjar of Rajasthan and Firdous Alam of Assam finishing second and third respectively.
In the Men's U18 Heptathlon, Advith V Yadav of Karnataka took gold with 4,860 points, followed by Nagar Singh Kanesh of Madhya Pradesh (4,817 points) and Akash Ashvini of Bihar (4,706 points).
On the women's side, Juin Mantusa and Mohur Mukerjee, both of West Bengal, shared the gold and silver positions in the Women's U20 High jump at 1.71m each, with S Alice Deva Prasann of Tamil Nadu winning bronze at 1.65m. The Women's U18 Discus throw was won by Oshin of Haryana with 43.81m, ahead of Maninder Kaur of Chandigarh (42.81m) and Sona Mohan T of Kerala (42.12m). Ranjana Yadav of Madhya Pradesh dominated the Women's U18 3,000m race walk in 13:58.57 seconds.
In the Women's U18 Heptathlon, Muskan of Haryana topped the standings with 4,790 points, followed by Anamika Ajesh of Kerala (4,743 points) and Sonali Das of West Bengal (4,262 points).
Haryana's Continued Dominance
The day's results reinforced Haryana's position as a powerhouse in Indian junior athletics, claiming medals in multiple throws events across genders. Notably, the state has consistently produced elite throwers over the past decade, and Nishchay's record-breaking performance is the latest marker of that pipeline. This was Day Four of the championships, with more events still to come at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
With the senior circuit offering Olympic qualification pathways, performances at this level serve as early signals for India's next generation of track-and-field contenders.
Point of View
But producing a record-breaker of this margin at the junior level demands a coordinated response from national coaches, not just state academies.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Nishchay break at the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships?
Nishchay of Haryana broke the national Under-18 discus throw record with a throw of 66.75m on 26 October 2026, surpassing the previous mark of 64.09m set by Arjun in 2010. He had already broken the old record with his opening throw of 64.72m before extending it further.
Where is the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships being held?
The 41st National Junior Athletics Championships is being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The record-breaking performance by Nishchay came on Day Four of the competition.
Who won silver and bronze in the Men's U18 Discus throw?
Vishal Kumar of Rajasthan won silver with a throw of 57.72m, and Dev Chauhan of Haryana took bronze at 55.28m. Nishchay's winning throw was nearly 9 metres ahead of the silver medallist.
How significant is Nishchay's record in the context of Indian junior athletics?
The record had stood for 16 years before Nishchay erased it twice in the same competition. A throw of 66.75m at the Under-18 level places him among the more promising young throws athletes in India, with implications for his trajectory toward senior and international competition.
Which state dominated the throws events on Day Four?
Haryana dominated the throws events on Day Four, winning gold in both the Men's U18 Discus throw through Nishchay and the Women's U18 Discus throw through Oshin (43.81m). Dev Chauhan of Haryana also claimed bronze in the men's discus.
