ATHLETICS | Sindhushree outjumps Baranica for pole vault gold and Asiad ticket

The unheralded Sindhushree G. wrote her name in the record books with a shock win over Baranica Elangovan in the women’s pole vault and qualified for the Asian Games on the second day of the National inter-State athletics meet at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

The 25-year-old short statured Karnataka girl — who trained for two weeks with a borrowed pole from a fellow male athlete, who had purchased the equipment meant for women by mistake — relied on her endurance to thrive despite the humid conditions. She achieved the National mark of 4.25m ahead of Baranica, who couldn’t improve upon her previous mark of 4.23m.

Sindhushree of Karnataka poses after posting a National record in the women’s pole vault final of the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Thursday, June 25, 2026.
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BISWARANJAN ROUT

“I do 30 jumps in training. I had enough endurance,” said Sindhushree, whose previous best was 4.00m in the Indian Athletics Series in Delhi in May.

Proudly holding a photo of her late father, R. Ganesh, who backed her to pursue athletics before his death in 2022, Sindhushree said, “I dedicate this to my father, who had dreamt of seeing me in India colours.”

Gowthami Jayaraman timed 2:04.17 to upset Pooja Ola and secure the women’s 800m crown.

Animesh Kujur (20.87) made the cut for the continental show-piece in men’s 200m heats before lowering it to 20.74 to win the final.

Gowthami Jayaraman of Tamil Nadu gestures after qualifying for the Asian Games in the women’s 800m final at the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
BISWARANJAN ROUT

Harita Bhadra (23.55) and Unnathi Bollanda (23.65) also qualified in the women’s 200m heats before taking the top two places in the final, clocking 23.14 and 23.40 respectively.

Tejas Shirse (13.43) set a new meet record in men’s 110m hurdles. He earned an Asiad berth and bettered his previous meet record (13.54).

Mohammed P of Kerala qualifies for the Asian Games in the men’s 800m final at the 65th National inter-State senior athletics championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
BISWARANJAN ROUT

The results (finals): Men: 200m (Asiad Q mark 20.88): 1. Animesh Kujur (Odi) 20.74, 2. Dondapati M. Jayaram (Odi) 20.97, 3. Jishnu Prasad P.K. (Ker) 21.18; 800m (Asiad Q mark 1:48.80): 1. Mohammed Afsal P. (Ker) 1:48.57, 2. Krishan Kumar (Har) 1:48.82, 3. Prathamesh Deore (Mah) 1:48.89; Discus (Asiad Q mark 60.13m): 1. Kirpal Singh (Chd) 57.37m, 2. Nirbhay Singh (Har) 55.26m, 3. Arjun (Del) 54.90m; Decathlon (Asiad Q mark 7250): 1. Thowfeeq N. (Ker) 7276, 2. Kushal Mohite (Mah) 7251, 3. Jashbir Nayak (Odi) 7131; Half-marathon race walk (Asiad Q mark 1:25:37): 1. Servin Sebastian (TN) 1:31:49, 2. Sachin Bohra (Utk) 1:32:10, 3. Ningthoukongja (Man) 1:32:24.

Women: 200m (Asiad Q mark 23.70): 1. Harita Bhadra (Mah) 23.14, 2. Unnathi Bollanda (Kar) 23.40, 3. Prakruthi Roopa Rao (Kar) 23.58; 800m (Asiad Q mark 2:05.21): 1. Gowthami Jayaraman (TN) 2:04.17, 2. Pooja Ola (Har) 2:04..37, 3. Lili Das (WB) 2:04.59; Shot put (Asiad Q mark 16.25m): 1. Manpreet Kaur (Har) 17.75m, Krishna Jayasankar (TN) 16.96m, 3. Srishti Vig (Del) 16.96m; Pole vault (Asiad Q mark 4.10m): 1. Sindhushree G. (Kar) 4.25m (NR, Old 4.23m, Baranica Elangovan, 2026), 2. Baranica Elangovan (TN) 4.20m, 3. Nitika Akare (MP) 4.10m.