The Indian Open 2025 World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level event in Bhubaneswar witnessed stellar performances from Indian athletes, with Murali Sreeshankar and Annu Rani clinching top honors in their respective events. The event, held at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday, served as a crucial opportunity for athletes to secure valuable ranking points and boost their chances of qualifying for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Murali Sreeshankar, the long jump ace, continued his winning streak, securing his fourth consecutive title since returning from injury. The 26-year-old leapt a season-best distance of 8.13m in his final attempt, edging out a strong challenge from 17-year-old Shahnavaz Khan. Khan, who broke the 8m barrier for the first time in his career with a jump of 8.04m, pushed Sreeshankar to bring out his best. Sreeshankar's victory in Bhubaneswar follows his recent successes at the Indian Open in Pune and events in Portugal and Almaty. While Sreeshankar has been consistently improving since his return from injury, he is still aiming to breach the World Championships' direct entry mark of 8.27m.
Annu Rani, the veteran javelin thrower, lived up to expectations by winning gold in the women's javelin throw event. Rani recorded a best distance of 62.01m in her fourth attempt, securing her second title win within a week. She had previously won the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial with a season-best distance of 62.59m. Rani's recent performances have significantly strengthened her chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships, with the qualification window closing later this month. In Bhubaneswar, Rani managed two throws over 60m, with her second-best attempt measuring 61.01m. While she is currently ranked 30th in the Road to Tokyo list, she is yet to breach the automatic qualification mark of 64m.
Besides Sreeshankar and Rani, other Indian athletes also made their mark at the Indian Open 2025. Animesh Kujur won the men's 200m title with a timing of 20.77s. Vishal TK won the men's 400m title with a timing of 45.72s, while Vijaykumari secured the women's 400m title with 53.40s. Abhinaya Rajarajan won the women's 100m final, clocking 11.57s. Shaili Singh won the women's long jump with a best of 6.28m, and Abdulla Aboobacker recorded 16.53m to win the men's triple jump.
However, there were also disappointments for the home contingent. No Indian finished on the podium in the men's 100m, with Malaysia's Muhammed Azeem taking the title. Shivam Lohakare finished second in the men's javelin throw with a throw of 80.73m, while Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won the event and qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships with a national record of 86.50m.
The Indian Open 2025 World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level event provided a platform for Indian athletes to compete against international talent and improve their rankings. While some athletes achieved remarkable success, others will need to continue working hard to achieve their qualification goals for the World Athletics Championships. The event also marked a historic moment for Indian athletics, as it was the first time India hosted a World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour meet.
