The Taiwan Athletics Open 2024, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level meet, concluded on Sunday, witnessing a strong showing from Indian athletes.
While DP Manu secured a gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw, several others impressed with podium finishes and personal bests. Yet, the looming Paris Olympics qualification standards cast a shadow, with some athletes still needing to meet the mark or climb the world rankings.
DP Manu Clinches Javelin Gold, Yet to Secure Olympic Berth
DP Manu, India’s leading javelin thrower currently ranked 12th globally, emerged victorious in the Men’s Javelin Throw final. He saved his best for last, launching a throw of 81.58m on his final attempt to secure the top spot.
This was Manu’s third podium finish of the season, following wins at the Indian Grand Prix 1 and a silver medal finish behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at the Federation Cup.
However, despite his impressive performance, Manu fell short of the Paris Olympics qualification standard of 85.50m. There’s still a chance for him to qualify, though.
Athletes can secure a berth by ranking among the top 32 in the world by the qualification deadline of June 30th, 2024. Manu’s personal best of 84.35m, achieved two years ago, offers some hope, but he will need to maintain consistency and potentially improve his throws in the remaining weeks.
Nithya Ramraj Bags Silver in Hurdles, Sets Personal Best
Nithya Ramraj displayed her talent in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, sprinting to a silver medal with a time of 13.23s. This achievement was even more impressive considering she set a personal best of 13.12s in the heats earlier in the day.
The gold medal went to the experienced American athlete Nia Ali, a former world champion and Olympic silver medalist, who clocked a dominant 12.80s. Bo-Ya Zhang of Chinese Taipei completed the podium with a time of 13.28s.
V.K. Vismaya Earns Bronze in the 400m
V.K. Vismaya, a member of India’s gold-winning 4x400m relay team at the 2018 Asian Games, showcased her speed in the Women’s 400m race.
She secured the bronze medal with a season-best time of 53.49s. Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake Tharushi Karunarathna dominated the race, winning the gold medal with a time of 52.48s, while Yi-Cen Chen of Chinese Taipei took home the silver in 53.44s.
Other Indian Performances and Looking Ahead
While the spotlight shone brightest on Manu, Ramraj, and Vismaya, other Indian athletes also participated in the Taiwan Athletics Open. Rosy Meena Paulraj, the national record holder in women’s pole vault (4.21m, 2022), had a disappointing performance, finishing sixth with a height of 3.75m. However, the tournament offered valuable experience for all participants as they strive to improve their rankings and performances.
The focus for Indian athletics now shifts towards the remaining qualifying window for the Paris Olympics. With the deadline approaching on June 30th, athletes like Manu will need to capitalize on upcoming events and push themselves to achieve the Olympic qualification standards or climb the world rankings.
The Taiwan Athletics Open served as a stepping stone, showcasing their potential but also highlighting the need for continued improvement in the quest for Olympic glory.
The Taiwan Athletics Open meet ends on Sunday with Nayana James, Dev Meena, Ankesh Chaudhary and Somnath Chauhan in action in their respective events.
Written By Ishant
