By Admin 
Rishab Nehra sprung a surprise to record his personal best of 80.12m and claim the men’s javelin crown in a competitive field on the concluding day of the National Open athletics championships at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Morabadi, on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Rishab, who had a previous best of 77.38m in 2022 and a season best of 72.29m, managed 72.26m and 76.19m in his first two attempts before hurling the spear high and far to join the elite 80m club. It helped him go past leader Shivam Lohakare’s 76.58m and corner glory.
“The feel was good in the first two throws, so my coach asked me to push in the third and it worked,” said Nehra.
The promising Lohakare, nursing dodgy and painful ankles, registered 77.65m in his third effort to take the bronze behind Uttam Patil (78.01m).
Yashvir Singh (77.66m), who participated in the Tokyo World championships, and Sahil Silwal (76.94m) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Asian bronze medallist Pooja Olla, who marked her personal best (2:01.03) in Tokyo, comfortably won the women’s 800m gold with 2:03.16 despite a late challenge from Lili Das (2:04.15).
Ankita Dhyani, another Worlds participant, ran a lonely race to the women’s 3,000m steeplechase title (10:01.74).
K.A. Anamika (5629) achieved a personal best to win her maiden heptathlon gold. Manikanta Hoblidhar (100m) and Pooja (800m) were adjudged the best athletes in men’s and women’s sections, respectively.
The Railways men, comprising Kaven S.K., Theerthesh Shetty, Vikrant Panchal and Rajesh Ramesh, set a new meet record (3:06.35) in 4x400m relay.
The results: (winners only): Men: 200m: Sandeep Singh (SSCB) 20.95; 800m: Prakash Gadade (SSCB) 1:50.01; 10,000m: Prince Kumar (AIP) 30:25.15; 400m hurdles: Ruchit Mori (Guj) 50.47; 3,000m steeplechase: Vikram Singh (SSCB) 8:38.91; 4x400m relay: Railways 3:06.35 (NMR, Old 3:06.63, Services, 2015); Triple jump: Dinesh V. (TN) 16.27m; Javelin: Rishab Nehra (UP) 80.12m.
Women: 200m: Sakshi Chavan (Guj) 23.78; 800m: Pooja (Rlys) 2:03.16; 400m hurdles: Olimba Steffi (Rlys) 58.93; 10,000m: Ravina Gayakwad (Mah) 35:30.16; 3,000m steeplechase: Ankita Dhyani (Rlys) 10:01.74; 4x400m relay: Railways 3:39.28; Long jump: Bhavani Yadav Bhagav (Rlys) 6.13m; Hammer: Tanya Chaudhary (UP) 60.83m; Heptathlon: K.A. Anamika 5629.
Team championships: Men: Services; Women: Railways; Overall: Railways.