Szczecin, Poland : India’s top javelin thrower, Annu Rani, made a thunderous return to form by clinching the gold medal at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event held in Szczecin, Poland. With a season-best throw of 62.59 meters, Rani led the field convincingly and reaffirmed her place among the sport’s elite.
The Meerut-born athlete unleashed her winning throw on her second attempt, surpassing her opening effort of 60.95m. She capped her performance with another strong final throw of 60.07m — marking the first time since May 2024 that she recorded three 60+ meter throws in a single competition.
This notable performance is more than just another victory. It is Annu’s fifth-best throw of her career, and her best since the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, where she won gold with a throw of 62.92m. It signals a resurgence in form just as she continues her push for qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Despite falling short of the direct qualification mark of 64.00m, Annu remains in strong contention through world rankings. Her national record of 63.82m, set in 2022 at Jamshedpur, still stands tall, but this win underlines her consistency and fighting spirit on the global stage.
The Polish meet saw other Indian athletes make their mark as well — Pooja earned a third-place finish in the women’s 800m, while Jisna Mathew secured sixth place in the 400m women’s event, underscoring a growing Indian presence in track and field at international meets.
Annu Rani’s golden throw not only added to India’s medal tally but also reignited hopes for a strong showing in the upcoming championships. With momentum on her side, all eyes are now on her journey toward Tokyo.
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