Krishna Jayasankar – National Record in indoor shot put -16.63m

Indian shot putter Krishna Jayasankar Menon continued her remarkable rise on the international throwing circuit by breaking her own Indian indoor national record, producing a massive 16.63m effort to win the women’s shot put title at the New Mexico Team Open 2026 in the United States.

The performance, subject to ratification, improved her previous indoor best of 16.03m and represented a significant leap forward in her indoor profile.

Competing against a strong American collegiate field, Krishna dominated the event, finishing nearly 70 centimetres clear of her nearest rival. Hannah Richardson of Azusa Pacific placed second with 15.94m, while Alesha Lane of New Mexico State took third with 14.52m. Krishna’s winning margin and record-breaking distance underlined not just her current form but also her growing consistency at the highest level of university and international competition.

The New Mexico Team Open, held at altitude in Albuquerque, is one of the more competitive early-season indoor meets in the US collegiate calendar. For throwers, it provides a useful testing ground against deep, technically sound fields that include athletes from major NCAA programs.

Krishna arrived at the meet with confidence after a steady build-up through the early part of the season, but few could have predicted just how big a breakthrough was about to come. When her shot landed at 16.63 metres, it not only took her into first place but also erased her own national indoor record by a remarkable 60 centimetres.

In shot put, especially indoors, such a jump is substantial. Improving by even 10–20 centimetres at this level usually reflects weeks of technical refinement and strength progression. A 60cm leap in a single competition signals that multiple elements speed across the circle, release angle, timing and explosive power came together in near-perfect harmony.

While records often grab headlines, Krishna’s performance carried significance beyond the raw distance. She produced the winning throw in a controlled, competitive environment against high-level opposition, not in isolation. That makes the mark far more meaningful from a performance and ranking standpoint.

Indoor shot put is notoriously difficult. The smaller circles, tighter runways, and fast tracks reduce the margin for error. Any mistimed foot placement or slight technical lapse can result in a foul or a subpar throw. To generate 16.63m under those conditions highlights the technical maturity Krishna has developed.

It also reinforces her reputation as one of India’s most technically sound young throwers. Her ability to translate training into competition, especially on the demanding US circuit, sets her apart. Krishna had already etched her name into the Indian record books earlier when she set the indoor national record at 16.03m. But elite athletes are often defined not by the records they set, but by how quickly they move past them.

The new mark of 16.63m is not just an incremental improvement it is a statement of intent. It places her in a far more competitive global bracket and moves her closer to the distances typically required to contend in continental championships and high-level international meets.

For context, many Asian medal-winning performances in women’s shot put fall in the mid-to-high 16-metre range. Krishna is now firmly in that zone indoors, and that bodes extremely well as she transitions toward the outdoor season.

India has been steadily building strength in women’s throws, but genuine international breakthroughs remain rare. Shot put, in particular, is a discipline where Asian athletes face fierce competition from Europe and the Americas, where the depth of talent is immense.

Krishna Jayasankar Menon’s record-breaking performance provides Indian athletics with something invaluable: a thrower who is not just competitive at home, but capable of holding her own in one of the world’s toughest developmental systems.

Competing in the US collegiate circuit means weekly exposure to elite coaching, world-class facilities, and relentless competition. It sharpens both technical skills and mental toughness qualities that are often the difference between domestic success and international relevance. By winning meets like the New Mexico Open and setting records in the process, Krishna is proving that Indian athletes can thrive in this environment.

With the indoor season still unfolding, Krishna will have further opportunities to test herself against strong fields and perhaps even push her new record higher. More importantly, the confidence gained from this performance will carry into the outdoor campaign, where longer run-ups and favourable conditions could unlock even bigger distances.

For now, the 16.63m stands as a landmark moment a national record, a meet win, and a clear signal that Krishna Jayasankar Menon is entering a new phase of her career.

Indian athletics is watching closely, and rightly so. A throw like this does not just rewrite a record — it changes expectations.