The Indian Open Throws Meet in Patiala delivered a series of encouraging performances for Indian athletics, highlighted by Kirpal Singh’s gold medal in the men’s discus throw with a mark of 58.89m the best throw by an Indian in the event in the past three years.
The experienced thrower produced a composed performance to finish on top of the podium, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most accomplished discus athletes. The mark also represents the best by an Indian since Kirpal himself threw his lifetime best of 61.83m in 2022, underlining the significance of his return to form.
At 33 years of age, Kirpal’s victory is particularly notable given the challenges he has faced in recent years. The Punjab thrower returned to competition last season after serving a doping ban that was originally four years but later reduced to two years by the National Anti-Doping Agency’s Anti-Doping Appeal Panel. Since his comeback, he has been steadily working towards regaining his competitive rhythm.
His 58.89m effort at Patiala suggests that the veteran athlete is once again finding the consistency that once placed him among the top throwers in the country.
Lohakare shines with 81.08m javelin throw
Another standout performance at the meet came from rising javelin thrower Shivam Lohakare, who delivered a sensational 81.08m throw on his very first attempt of the season. The effort made Lohakare the first Indian to cross the 80m mark in 2026 and only the fourth javelin thrower globally to breach that distance this year.
The throw comfortably cleared the Asian Games qualification mark, putting Lohakare firmly in contention for a place in India’s squad for the continental event.
What made the performance even more impressive was that Lohakare achieved the mark with his opening attempt of the competition, demonstrating both confidence and technical execution early in the event.
The young thrower had already shown promise in the previous season, crossing the 80m mark three times across different competitions. His latest performance indicates that he could emerge as one of India’s leading javelin prospects in the coming years.
Nishchay’s remarkable double success
Among the most exciting stories of the meet was the performance of young thrower Nishchay, who delivered a remarkable double gold in the U-18 category. The youngster first claimed the U-18 shot put gold with a personal best throw of 19.78m, establishing himself as one of the country’s most promising junior athletes in the event.
He followed that achievement with another outstanding performance in the U-18 discus throw, where he produced a personal best of 63.90m to secure his second gold medal of the meet. Nishchay came agonisingly close to breaking the long-standing national record of 64.09m, set by Arjun in 2010. His best throw missed the record by just 0.19m, less than twenty centimetres.
Winning two events with personal best performances across consecutive days highlighted both his versatility and potential as a future star in Indian athletics.
The Indian Open Throws meet also witnessed a new national record in the men’s U20 discus throw. Junior Federation Cup champion Ujjawal Chaudhary produced a throw of 60.03m, surpassing his own previous national record of 59.51m, which he had set last year in Prayagraj.
The record-breaking performance marked another step forward for the talented youngster, who continues to establish himself among the top junior throwers in the country. Interestingly, the Athletics Federation of India start list had mistakenly listed Nishchay Panwar’s 61.80m as the U20 national record. However, that mark was achieved using a 1.5kg discus in the U-18 category, while the U20 competition uses a 1.75kg discus, making the performances non-comparable.
Ujjawal’s 60.03m therefore stands as the official national record in the U20 category.
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The Indian Open Throws meet in Patiala proved to be a significant platform for both experienced athletes and emerging talent. Kirpal Singh’s performance provided reassurance that experienced competitors remain capable of delivering strong results, while athletes like Lohakare, Nishchay and Ujjawal demonstrated the depth of upcoming talent in India’s throwing events.
For Indian athletics, the emergence of young throwers alongside the resurgence of established names is an encouraging sign ahead of upcoming international competitions. With the Asian Games cycle approaching, performances like Lohakare’s 81.08m javelin throw and Kirpal’s strong discus mark will be closely monitored as selectors evaluate potential contenders for the national team.
The meet ultimately showcased a healthy blend of experience and youth, reflecting the growing competitiveness within India’s throws events.
If the performances in Patiala are any indication, the country’s throwers appear well placed to make a strong impact in the upcoming international season.
