Anushka Yadav delivered an outstanding performance at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026, winning the women’s hammer throw gold medal with a record-breaking effort of 66.53 metres. The 18-year-old athlete improved the existing meet record of 64.42 metres, previously held by Manju Bala.
The competition took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Alongside Anushka’s impressive performance, Baranica Elangovan secured gold in the women’s pole vault with a jump of 4.10 metres.
The third-day athletics results also featured exciting performances in the men’s 5,000 metres, high jump, shot put and relay events. Several athletes delivered strong results across track and field disciplines, making it an important day of competition.
Anushka Yadav Breaks Hammer Throw Meet Record
Anushka Yadav emerged as one of the leading performers at the National Open Athletics Championships 2026. Competing for ONGC, she threw the hammer to a distance of 66.53 metres to win the women’s event and establish a new meet record.
Her performance surpassed the previous record of 64.42 metres, which Manju Bala had held for five years. Anushka also demonstrated consistency throughout the competition, producing several strong throws.
Her recorded series included 62.21 metres, 65.75 metres, 66.47 metres, a foul, 66.53 metres and 65.25 metres.
Anushka entered the competition with a personal best of 67.02 metres, which she had achieved earlier in 2026. She also finished fourth in the women’s hammer throw at the 2026 Asian Games.
Her latest gold medal adds another significant achievement to an eventful season and highlights her continued progress in Indian athletics.
Baranica Elangovan Wins Women’s Pole Vault Gold
Baranica Elangovan also delivered a strong performance at the championships, winning the women’s pole vault event with a best jump of 4.10 metres.
Representing the Railways, Baranica finished ahead of fellow Railway athlete Mariya Jaison, who cleared 3.90 metres. Sindhushree G of Karnataka secured third place with a jump of 3.80 metres.
Baranica’s result added another highlight to the day’s competition. The athlete had also won a bronze medal in women’s pole vault at the 2026 Asian Games.
Women’s Pole Vault Results
| Position | Athlete | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Baranica Elangovan | Railway | 4.10 m |
| 2nd | Mariya Jaison | Railway | 3.90 m |
| 3rd | Sindhushree G | Karnataka | 3.80 m |
National Open Athletics Championships 2026: Day 3 Results
The third day featured several competitive events involving athletes from different states and institutional teams. Here are the leading results reported for the day.
Men’s Event Results
| Event | Gold Medalist | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 metres | Sunil Dawar (Madhya Pradesh) | 14:01.64 |
| High jump | Rohit (Railway) | 2.19 m |
| Shot put | Karanveer Singh (Punjab) | 19.63 m |
| 4 × 100 m relay | SSCB | 39.76 seconds |
In the men’s 5,000 metres, Sunil Dawar of Madhya Pradesh secured first place with a time of 14 minutes and 1.64 seconds. Shivaji Madappa of the Railways finished second in 14:02.81, while Ajay Bind of the Railways took third place in 14:03.86.
Rohit of the Railways won the men’s high jump after clearing 2.19 metres. Jesse Sandesh finished second with 2.16 metres, while Aaditya Raghuvanshi of Madhya Pradesh also cleared 2.16 metres to take third place.
In the shot put, Punjab’s Karanveer Singh won gold with a throw of 19.63 metres. Sanyam and Anurag Kaler, both representing the Railways, recorded 18.32 metres.
SSCB won the men’s 4 × 100 metres relay in 39.76 seconds. The Railways finished second in 40.75 seconds, followed by Haryana in 41.37 seconds.
Women’s Event Results
| Event | Gold Medalist | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 metres | Shampa Gain (West Bengal) | 35:33.90 |
| Long jump | Mubassina Mohammed (ONGC) | 6.38 m |
| Pole vault | Baranica Elangovan (Railway) | 4.10 m |
| Hammer throw | Anushka Yadav (ONGC) | 66.53 m |
| Javelin throw | Ramyashree Jain (Railway) | 56.63 m |
| 4 × 100 m relay | Railway | 45.56 seconds |
In the women’s 10,000 metres, Shampa Gain of West Bengal won the race in 35:33.90. Soniya of Uttarakhand finished second in 35:35.36, while Mamta of the All India Police team placed third in 35:38.25.
Mubassina Mohammed of ONGC won the women’s long jump with 6.38 metres, narrowly ahead of Shaili Singh of Uttar Pradesh, who recorded 6.37 metres. Nidhi, also from Uttar Pradesh, finished third with 6.28 metres.
In the women’s javelin throw, Ramyashree Jain of the Railways secured first place with 56.63 metres. Sanjana Choudhary of Rajasthan finished second with 56.12 metres, followed by Deepika of Haryana with 54.07 metres.
The Railways won the women’s 4 × 100 metres relay in 45.56 seconds. Odisha followed closely in 45.57 seconds, while Tamil Nadu finished third in 46.03 seconds.
Mixed 4 × 400 Metres Relay Results
The Railways team secured the top position in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay with a time of 3:21.60.
Haryana finished second in 3:22.43, while Rajasthan took third place in 3:25.54.
The closely contested relay provided another highlight in the day’s athletics programme.
Why Anushka Yadav’s Performance Matters
Anushka Yadav’s 66.53-metre throw is notable because it improved the existing meet record by more than two metres. At just 18 years old, she has already achieved a national record of 67.02 metres in women’s hammer throw earlier in the 2026 season.
Her performances at domestic competitions and the Asian Games have brought attention to her progress in the event.
Hammer throw requires a combination of strength, balance, technique and timing. Athletes must accelerate a heavy metal ball attached to a wire through multiple turns before releasing it into the throwing sector. Consistency across attempts is also important in a competition.
Anushka’s latest result demonstrates her ability to perform at a high level in a national championship setting. However, her future results will depend on continued preparation, competition and performance.
What Is the National Open Athletics Championships?
The National Open Athletics Championships is a major competition on India’s athletics calendar. It brings together athletes representing states, institutional teams and other participating organisations to compete across track and field events.
The programme includes running races, relays, jumps and throws. These competitions provide athletes with opportunities to test their performances against strong domestic competition.
The 65th edition featured events such as the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres, high jump, long jump, shot put, hammer throw, javelin throw, pole vault and relay races.
The results also provide useful information for followers of Indian athletics who want to track athletes’ progress throughout the season.
Conclusion
The National Open Athletics Championships 2026 delivered several notable performances on Day 3. Anushka Yadav won the women’s hammer throw gold medal with a meet-record distance of 66.53 metres, while Baranica Elangovan claimed the women’s pole vault title with 4.10 metres.
Other winners included Sunil Dawar in the men’s 5,000 metres, Rohit in the men’s high jump, Karanveer Singh in the men’s shot put and Mubassina Mohammed in the women’s long jump.
With strong performances across track and field events, the championships continued to showcase India’s athletics talent. Anushka’s latest achievement stands out as one of the day’s most significant results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who won the women’s hammer throw gold at the National Open Athletics Championships 2026?
Anushka Yadav of ONGC won the women’s hammer throw gold medal with a distance of 66.53 metres.
2. What record did Anushka Yadav break?
She broke the meet record of 64.42 metres, previously held by Manju Bala, by throwing 66.53 metres.
3. What is Anushka Yadav’s personal best in hammer throw?
Her personal best is 67.02 metres, achieved earlier in the 2026 season.
4. Who won the women’s pole vault at the championships?
Baranica Elangovan of the Railways won the women’s pole vault with a jump of 4.10 metres.
5. Who won the men’s 5,000 metres on Day 3?
Sunil Dawar of Madhya Pradesh won the men’s 5,000 metres in 14:01.64.
6. Where were the National Open Athletics Championships 2026 held?
The competition was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
7. Which team won the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay?
The Railways team finished first with a time of 3:21.60, ahead of Haryana and Rajasthan.
1 Comment
You had a great story