Reliance Foundation athletes steal the show on record-breaking day at Inter-State Athletics Championships
Bhubaneswar, June 28
On a day that saw national and meet records tumble, Reliance Foundation athletes left a lasting impression at the 65th Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Ancy Sojan led the way by breaking the legendary Anju Bobby George's 22-year-old national record in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.88m, according to a press release.
Speaking after her qualification for the Asian Games, Ancy said, "The infrastructure and training facilities are so good, and Reliance Foundation Sports gave me a better experience with international competition. From nutrition to sporting goods, they support us completely. Even if we fail or face injuries, they stand by us because they have great trust that we will bring home medals for India."
Animesh Kujur completed a sprint double by following up his gold in the 200m event with another top-of-the-podium finish in the 100m event. The 100m sprint saw a 1-2 finish for Reliance Foundation, with Pranav Gurav taking silver behind Animesh.
Apart from Ancy, Yashas P (men's 400m hurdles), Anu Raghavan (women's 400m hurdles) and Aadarsh Ram (men's high jump), also secured qualification for the Asian Games.
Defending champion Yashas set a new meet record, breaking his own record, by clocking a time of 49.14s in the final that saw a photo finish.
Veteran sprinter Anu Raghavan will also return to the Asian Games after 8 years, as she made a tremendous comeback from an elbow dislocation she suffered last month to win silver and seal her ticket to Aichi-Nagoya, having won bronze in the same 400m hurdles event at the continental showpiece eight years ago.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see corporate backing yielding results. But we need many more such initiatives across the country, not just in select states. The talent is everywhere, just needs the right nurture. 👏
Impressive performance by Animesh Kujur - sprint double is no joke! The depth in Indian athletics is growing. Hopefully this translates to medals at the Asian Games and beyond.
Anu Raghavan's comeback from an elbow dislocation to qualify for Asian Games after 8 years is pure grit. That's the spirit we need! Reliance Foundation deserves credit for standing by athletes through injuries. Sports medicine and recovery are crucial.
Happy to see Yashas P breaking his own meet record in 400m hurdles. Consistency is key. Let's hope these athletes peak at the Asian Games. The infrastructure talk is promising but execution in competition matters most.
Reliance Foundation is doing a fantastic job but I hope this doesn't create a monopoly in Indian sports. We need more corporate houses to step up and support grassroots athletics. Public-private partnership is the way forward. Still, congratulations to all the winners! 🏆
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