Pranav emerges fastest; Sachin wins javelin gold at Federation Athletics

Pranav, right, shocked a strong field to clinch the sprint gold.
| Photo Credit: R. K. Nithin

Pranav Pramod Gurav felt a bit of a shiver as he lined up for the men’s 100m final in the 28th National Federation Athletics Championships at the Maharaja’s Stadium here on Monday evening.

With four of the six fastest Indian men in history, it was the perhaps the strongest-ever field in a major national competition and Pranav did not give himself much of a chance.

But the 23-year-old Railway athlete from Pune shocked national record holder Gurindervir Singh, former record holder Manikanta Hoblidhar and National Games champion Animesh Kujur to stunningly take the gold in a personal best 10.27s.

A bit restless, Gurindervir did not have a good start but Pranav had a great one.

He was slightly ahead by the 60m mark and finished with a smart dip. Animesh (10.32s) took the silver while Manikanta, who broke the meet record in the semifinal and achieved the AFI’s Asian Championship qualification clocking 10.25s, was third in 10.35. Gurindervir (national record 10.20s) appeared to limp at the finish and ended up last.

“I dedicate this gold to my grandfather who is in ICU in a Pune hospital,” said Pranav. “I’ve been finishing second often in major competitions, I didn’t expect this gold. With so many fast runners, I expected a national record today but that didn’t happen.”

Telangana’s Nithya Gandhe was the fastest woman in 11.50s.

National Games champion Sachin Yadav, the world’s fifth best javelin thrower this year, won with a fifth-round effort of 83.86m while Yashvir Singh (80.85m) was second. The top seven finishers made the cut for next month’s Asian Championship in Gumi, South Korea.

The results (winners only): Men: 100m: Pranav Gurav (Rly) 10.27s; 1500m: Yoonus Shah (JSW) 3:41.93s; 10,000m: Sawan Barwal (Army) 28:57.13s MR, OR Surendra Singh’s 28:57.90; javelin throw: Sachin Yadav (UP) 83.86m.

Women: 100m: Nithya Gandhe (Tel) 11.50s; 1500m: Lili Das (Utk) 4:10.88s; 10,000m: Sanjivani Jadav (Mah) 33:44.43s; pole vault: Pavithra Venkatesh (TN) 4m.