Day 3 of the National Open Athletics Championships 2024 is set to showcase a blend of seasoned athletes and rising stars, promising a day filled with intense competition and potentially record-breaking performances.
(Refresh the page frequently for faster updates) The morning session will kick off with a highly anticipated event — the women’s 200m preliminary heats, featuring Srabani Nanda, one of India’s fastest sprinters, along with Nithya Gandhe.
Srabani has been a consistent performer on the national stage, and her participation adds significant weight to the competition. She can expect a challenge from Devyaniba Zala, who earlier won a silver medal in the women’s 400m in a photo finish.
On the men’s side of the 200m, the preliminary heats will be marked by the absence of two of the big names in Indian sprinting Amlan Borgohain and Animesh Kujur. Amlan, the national record holder, and Animesh, the meet record holder, were expected to dominate the track. However, their absence opens the door for emerging talents to make their mark in the championship. The men’s 200m event, which was expected to be one of the highlights of the day, now carries an air of unpredictability, making it an exciting race to watch.
In the field events, all eyes will be on Rohit Yadav in the men’s javelin throw. Rohit, who missed out on an Olympic berth due to an unfortunate injury, is making a much-anticipated return to competition.
His comeback story adds a compelling narrative to the event, as fans and critics alike will be keen to see if he can regain his form and challenge for the top spot. Rohit’s performance will be crucial, not just for his own career, but also for the overall quality of the competition in the javelin event with the likes of Sahil Silwal also in action.
The afternoon session will see Vithya Ramraj, the joint national record holder in the 400m hurdles, take to the track for the preliminary heats. Vithya has been in fine form, and the competition will be particularly interesting following her twin sister Nithya’s recent triumph in the 100m hurdles. The Ramraj sisters have been the talk of the championship, and Vithya will undoubtedly be looking to match or surpass her sister’s achievements as she aims for a place in the finals.
As the day progresses, other key events include the 35km Race Walk for both men and women, which will conclude with the medal ceremonies. These long-distance endurance events are expected to test the athletes’ limits, making them a fitting end to the morning session.
With a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, Day 3 of the National Open Athletics Championships 2024 promises to deliver drama, excitement, and possibly new records, as India’s best athletes compete for national glory.
