Annu's performance demonstrates a consistent return to her previous level of ability. (Photo: Getty Images)
Olympic athlete Annu Rani made a stunning return by winning the women's javelin throw in the Indian Open 2025, which was hosted at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. With a best throw of 62.01 meters, she won the gold medal, far ahead of India's Deepika, who finished third with 54.20 meters, and Sri Lanka's NDL Hatarabag Leka, who managed 56.27 meters.
Annu's performance demonstrates a consistent return to her previous level of ability. She had thrown 62.59 meters earlier this year in Poland, her greatest distance in more than two years. Her steady improvement indicates that she is becoming more self-assured as she gets ready for upcoming, more significant international events.
In the men’s javelin event, India’s Shivam Lohakare earned the silver medal with a throw of 80.73 meters. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won the gold with a stunning 86.50-meter throw, surpassing the World Championships qualifying distance of 85.50 meters.
Another Sri Lankan athlete, Sumeda J. Ranasinghe, took bronze with a throw of 80.65 meters.
India’s Murali Sreeshankar put on an impressive show in the men’s long jump event. He clinched the title with a season-best leap of 8.13 meters on his final attempt. With the jump of 8.04 meters, Shahnavaz Khan secured second place and joined the elite 8-meter club, while Lokesh Sathyanathan came third with a mark of 7.85 meters.
This victory extends Sreeshankar’s winning streak to four consecutive titles since his return from injury, showing his strong form leading up to the World Championships.
India Hosts World Athletics Continental Tour for the First Time
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The Indian Open 2025 marked an important milestone as India hosted a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level event for the very first time.
Top athletes from all across the region came to compete in the event, which offered them a chance to gain valuable ranking points that would help them qualify for the Tokyo World Athletics Championship.
The holding of this important event demonstrates India's growing capacity to host international athletics competitions. Additionally, it gives local athletes much-needed exposure to top competition at home, increasing their prospects of success on the global stage.
Beyond individual feats, the Indian Open signifies India's growing stature in the world of sports. The nation is demonstrating its dedication to sports development by organizing events at the continental level. As a result, there will probably be more international competitions held in India, giving athletes more chances to compete without having to go far.
The event also highlights India's focus on nurturing young talent and creating a competitive sports culture. The achievement of athletes like Annu Rani and Murali Sreeshankar shows that Indian athletes are growing stronger with every competition.
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