Dev Meena of Madhya Pradesh celebrates after qualifying for the Asian Games in the men’s pole vault during the the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
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.
Anushka Yadav of Uttar Pradesh poses after qualifying for the Asian Games in the women’s hammer throw during the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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