Asian Games 2023: India's Annu Rani strikes gold in women's javelin

India made its mark in javelin at the 2023 Asian Games on Tuesday with Annu Rani winning gold in the women’s final.

Rani clinched the top spot on Day 10 of the Hangzhou Games with a best effort of 62.92 metres in her very first attempt. Not only was it her season-best effort but it was enough for her to win India’s second gold medal of the day and 15th overall in the ongoing Games.

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Sri Lanka’s Nadeesha Dilhan Hatarabage Lekamge finished second with a best effort of 61.57m that also happened to be her personal best throw. Her silver is Sri Lanka’s second medal of the ongoing Game so far, with the women’s cricket team also having finished second earlier.

China’s Huihui Lyu took home the bronze medal with a best effort of 61.29 metres.

This was Annu’s second Asian Games medal as she had won a bronze in the 2014 edition.

Gold in women’s javelin throw at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Annu Rani best throw was 62.92m.@Adille1 @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/sYnRJUTmpm

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) October 3, 2023

For India, Barbara Webster (bronze in 1951), Elizabeth Davenport (bronze in 1962) and Gurmeet Kaur (bronze in 1998) have earlier won Asian Games medals in the competition.

“I was trying the whole year and I was not able to give my best. I was feeling depressed and under pressure because the government spent a lot of money sending me abroad for training,” Annu said.

“This was my last competition of the season and I did not give up. So I was determined to give my best.”

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She revealed that she was on the verge of quitting after a series of poor shows but decided against it to give herself a chance.

“There were expectations of the family and the country. I was not able to give my best. The whole season was not going well. In between I was even doing throws of 54m and I thought if I was doing so bad, I would quit. But I told myself that I will not give up so soon and fight till the end.”

With inputs from PTI