Animesh Kujur and Annu Rani win gold, have a good chance to qualify for worlds

Odisha’s Animesh Kujur and Annu Rani of Uttar Pradesh were the main attractions late in the evening in the National inter-state athletics meet at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday (August 23, 2025). For they were the favourites to win gold in their respective disciplines and confirm their spots through ranking points for next month’s World championships in Tokyo.

Expectedly, Kujur and Rani won the gold medal in men’s 200m and women’s javelin throw, respectively, but performed well below their personal best. Though both are in quite a strong position to go to Tokyo, a clear picture will emerge when the final list of who has made the cut is released next week.

Kujur emerged a comfortable winner in a new meet record time of 20.63s, finishing well ahead of Ragul Kumar (20.92) and Amlan Borgohain (21.19).

Watched by India’s head coach Sergey Makarov of Russia, Rani threw 61.05m to win gold. She started with 61.05m, then did a series of below par throws: 57.22, 60.21, 59.48, foul and finally finished with a 60.41 in her last attempt. “I hope to peak at the Worlds,” said Rani.

In men’s shot put, Madhya Pradesh’s Samardeep Gill upset Tajinderpal Toor Singh to win the gold medal with a throw of 19.82m. The National record holder Tajinderpal could only do 19.41.

Moumita Mondal of West Bengal pushed favourite Shaili Singh to the second place, with a jump of 6.27m in the women’s long jump. Singh leapt to a distance of 6.18m. Tamil Nadu’s S. Dhanalakshmi bagged a double, by winning the women’s 200m in a time of 23.53s to go with the 100m she had won the other day.

The results

Men: 200m: Animesh Kujur (Odi) 20.63 (NMR) (OR: Animesh Kaur, Panchkula, 20.65s, 2024); 400mH: Ruchit Mori (Guj) 49.76m; 800m: Krishan Kumar (Har) 1:48.41s; high jump: Sarvesh Kushare (Mah) 2.24m; shot put: Samardeep Gill (MP) 19.82m.

Women: 200m: S. Dhanalakshmi (TN) 23.53s; 400mH: Ramandeep Kaur (Pun) 58.90s; 800m: Pooja (Har) 2:02.27s; long jump: Moumit Mondal (WB) 6.27m; Discus throw: Seema (Har) 57.18m; javelin throw: Annu Rani (UP) 61.05m.