Asian Games: Abha Katua breaches qualification mark in shot put

Shot putter Abha Katua breached the Asian Games qualification mark with her performance in the Indian Grand Prix 5 on Sunday, 10th September. India is looking to add 15 more athletes to the 65-member Asian Games contingent based on their performance in the ongoing two-day event.

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Abha Katua goes past 18m Asian Games qualification mark

In the Women’s Shot Put at the Indian Grand Prix, Abha Katua clinched the gold with a best throw of 18.02m. With that she breached the Asian Games qualification mark which is set at 18m. Katua also went on to beat Asian Games bound Kiran Baliyan and Mapreet Kaur with her effort.

Kiran Baliyan finished second with a 17.92m throw. Manpreet Kaur meanwhile recorded a 16.30m throw and finished third. Katua’s 18.02m throw is just four centimetre short of her personal best, which is also a joint National record mark that she set in July.

With the Athletics Federation of India looking to add more athletes to the Asian Games contingent, it remains to be seen whether Katua’s efforts helps her get a ticket to Hangzhou, China.

Jinson Johnson, Kishore Jena win gold

INDIAN GRAND PRIX 5

Season Best of 3:39.32 for Jinson Johnson. He already qualified for Asian Games 2023. #IndianAthletics #JinsonJohnson #IndianGrandPrix #Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/ospFKIP5Az
— nnis Sports (@nnis_sports) September 10, 2023

Jinson Johnson shined in the Men’s 1500m event. The 2018 Asian Games champion posted a season best time 3:39.32 secs to win the gold. In the Men’s Javelin Throw, Kishore Kumar Jena sealed the top spot. He recorded a best throw of 82.53m. Both Jinson Johnson and Kishore Jena have already qualified for the Asian Games.

Kishore Jena finished fifth in the World Championships last month. On Sunday he impressed with series of throws that went over 80m raising hopes of a podium finish at the Asian Games.

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In the Men’s 100m National record holder Amlan Borgohain was beaten by Harjit Singh of Punjab. Harjeet Singh clocked a timing of 10.55 seconds, while Borgohain recorded 10.57 seconds. However it was way below the Asian Games qualification mark which is set at 10.19 seconds.

Amoj Jacob clocked 45.92 secs to win men's 400m race at Indian Grand Prix 5 in Chandigarh.#AsianGames pic.twitter.com/ofxkfvqirR
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) September 10, 2023

In the 400m runner Amoj Jacob clinched gold with a timing of 45.92 seconds. Jacob was a part of the Indian 4x400m relay quartet that shattered the Asian record at the World Championships last month.

Meanwhile the women’s 400m event saw as many as 10 athletes, including six, registering timing below 54 seconds. Tamil Nadu’s R Vithya Ramraj won gold with a tiing of 52.40 seconds, a personal best. Asian 100m hurdles champion Jyothi Yarraji participated in the 400m for the first time. She clocked 53.91 seconds to finish sixth in her group. The 400m race was run in five groups and there was no final.