Five World Championships Each: The Quiet Legacy of Vikas Gowda and Annu Rani

A Legacy of Persistence: How Annu Rani and Vikas Gowda Redefined Consistency in Indian Athletics

For decades, Indian athletics was defined by flashes of brilliance sporadic moments of international success rather than sustained global presence. From Milkha Singh’s near miss at the Rome 1960 Olympics to P.T. Usha’s agonizing fourth place in Los Angeles 1984, the narrative often revolved around isolated achievements. But over the past two decades, that perception has begun to shift.

Athletes are no longer seen as one-off stories; they are becoming recurring figures on the world stage. Two names stand out in cementing this transition: Vikas Gowda in the discus throw and Annu Rani in the javelin throw. Both athletes hold a unique record in Indian track and field five appearances at the World Athletics Championships (WAC). Neither won a medal at the event, but their consistency, longevity, and ability to return to the highest level across multiple editions represent something much larger. They changed the very definition of success in Indian athletics.

Vikas Gowda: The Discus Throw Pioneer

Born in Mysore but raised in Maryland, USA, Vikas Gowda benefited from a structured, professional environment that most Indian athletes of his time could only dream of. His father, Shiv Gowda, a former coach of the Indian Olympic team, provided the initial spark, while the U.S. collegiate system polished him into an elite athlete. Competing for the University of North Carolina, he earned multiple honors before training under four-time world champion John Godina. That professionalized background paid off. Gowda made his WAC debut in Helsinki 2005 and returned in 2007, though both outings ended in the qualifiers.

His breakthrough came in Daegu 2011, where a throw of 64.05m earned him a seventh-place finish, making him the first Indian male athlete to reach a WAC final. He repeated the feat in Moscow 2013, again finishing seventh with 64.03m, before bowing out with a ninth-place finish in Beijing 2015.

Gowda’s WAC Record:

• 2005 Helsinki – Did Not Advance (62.04m)
• 2007 Osaka – Did Not Advance
• 2011 Daegu – 7th (64.05m)
• 2013 Moscow – 7th (64.03m)
• 2015 Beijing – 9th (62.24m)

Though a WAC medal eluded him, Gowda left behind a pioneering legacy. He proved that Indian throwers could be consistent finalists at the world level. Beyond WAC, he clinched Commonwealth Games gold in 2014, silver in 2010, and multiple Asian Games medals. At the 2012 London Olympics, he became the first Indian to reach the final of a throwing event, finishing eighth. His national record of 66.28m, set in 2012, still stands.

For Indian athletics, Gowda symbolized stability: a decade-long presence at the top. He provided the blueprint for how structured training, access to facilities, and international exposure could transform raw talent into global competitiveness.

Annu Rani: From Sugarcane Fields to the World Stage

If Gowda’s story is one of privilege and professional structure, Annu Rani’s journey is the opposite a tale of grit from India’s rural heartland. Growing up in Bahadurpur village, Meerut, she was first spotted by her brother Upendra, who noticed her powerful arm while playing cricket. Without proper equipment, he trained her using sugarcane sticks. Overcoming her father’s resistance, Annu eventually entered professional training under Kashinath Naik, a Commonwealth Games medalist.

Her rise was meteoric. She first broke the national record in 2014 (58.83m) and has since extended it multiple times, reaching 63.82m in 2022. At the WAC, she has steadily broken barriers.

Annu Rani’s WAC Record:

• 2017 London – Did Not Advance (59.93m)
• 2019 Doha – 8th place (qualified for final with 62.43m)
• 2022 Oregon – 7th place (61.12m)
• 2023 Budapest – Did Not Advance (57.05m)
• 2025 Tokyo – Qualified via world ranking (62.59m season’s best)

Her 2019 performance was historic: she became the first Indian woman to reach a WAC javelin final. In 2022, she improved further, finishing seventh. Even setbacks, like her 2023 early exit, only fueled her comeback. By 2025, she returned strong, once again breaking into the elite bracket.

Annu’s career has also delivered landmark medals. She won India’s first-ever women’s javelin medal at the Commonwealth Games (bronze, 2022) and became Asian Games champion in 2023 with 62.92m. With two Olympic appearances (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), she has been a consistent global presence for nearly a decade.

While Gowda and Annu Rani share the distinction of five WAC appearances, their journeys represent two contrasting pathways to success.

• Gowda was shaped by an international system—structured, well-funded, and guided by elite coaching. He showcased what Indian athletes could achieve with institutional backing.
• Annu, in contrast, is the embodiment of resilience. From sugarcane sticks to national records, her journey underscores the depth of talent that exists in India’s villages, waiting to be unlocked.

Together, they demonstrate that Indian athletics can now produce both system-driven champions and grassroots fighters, each capable of competing with the world’s best.

Beyond Medals: Why Consistency Matters

For a country like India, where global athletics success has historically been scarce, Gowda and Annu’s longevity carries immense significance. India has won just three medals in WAC history Anju Bobby George’s bronze in 2003, and Neeraj Chopra’s gold (2022) and silver (2023). In that context, the sustained presence of Gowda and Annu is almost as valuable as a podium finish.

They normalized participation at the highest level. Before them, an Indian athlete reaching a final was newsworthy; after them, it became an expectation. Their careers laid the groundwork for Neeraj Chopra’s rise and for the new generation of throwers now emerging.

Comparative Snapshot

The careers of Vikas Gowda and Annu Rani tell us that success is not only about medals it is about sustained presence at the highest level. Gowda brought professionalism and structure, while Annu brought resilience and trailblazing grit. Together, they shifted India’s athletics narrative from sporadic appearances to predictable, consistent competition at the world stage. Their shared record of five WAC appearances symbolizes more than longevity it represents a cultural shift. They showed that Indian athletes can be regular contenders, not one-hit wonders. In doing so, they built the foundation upon which today’s stars, like Neeraj Chopra, continue to shine.

Their legacy is not measured in medals but in consistency, courage, and persistence values that will continue to inspire Indian athletics for decades to come.