Hoblidhar returns to action as Kuldeep sets pole-vault meet record at National Open
Manikanta Hoblidhar returned from a long injury lay-off to be the fastest Indian man on Day One of the 65th National Open athletics championships in New Delhi on Thursday, while Kuldeep Kumar won the pole vault with a new meet record of 5.30m.
The former national record holder resumed competition after almost a year, topping the 100m heats in 10.36 seconds before lowering his time to 10.30s in the semifinals to secure a place among the last eight. Hoblidhar had set a national record of 10.19s last year, a mark since surpassed by Gurindervir and Animesh Kujur. Several expected names in the men’s 400m — Manu T.S., Dharamveer Chaudhary and Jay Kumar, members of the Asian Games relay team — did not appear, and M.R. Poovamma did not start in the women’s event.
With those absences, Railways’ Vikrant Panchal posted the day’s fastest 400m time at 45.88 seconds, the only sub-46 run recorded at the meet. Kiran Pahal, who ran the first leg for the women’s 4x400m relay, clocked the fastest time across all heats at 54.33s but pulled out of the semifinals. Rajasthan’s Nitisha led the remaining women with 53.80s to advance to the final, joined by Priya Mohan.
The men’s 10,000m drew attention for reasons off the track as much as on it: Abhishek Pal, who had been served a notice after a female fertility drug was found in his sample and was subsequently withdrawn from the Asian Games squad despite qualifying, remained eligible to compete while the case is pending. The National Anti-Doping Agency’s disciplinary panel noted he was free to participate until final disposal of the matter, with any results subject to the outcome. The race was won by Shivaji Madappa (RSPB) in 30:30.54, Gaurav Mathur (Delhi) was second in 30:36.33 and Vinod Singh (MP) third in 30:37.13.
On the field, Nirbhay Chaudhary (Delhi) took hammer throw gold with two 69m efforts and a best of 69.42m on his fourth attempt, while Praveen Kumar (RSPB) recorded 67.73m for silver and Ashish Jakhar (SSCB) 66.86m for bronze. In the pole vault Kuldeep Kumar (MP) cleared 5.30m to win and set a new meet record; Reegan G (SSCB) was second with 5.25m and Rambeer (SSCB) third at 5.10m.
Seema Kaliramna (Haryana) claimed the women’s discus title with 57.63m, almost 5m ahead of the runner-up Nikita Kumari (Rajasthan) who threw 52.48m, with Sanya Yadav (Har) third at 52.45m. Long jumper Shaili Singh, making her triple-jump debut, finished third with 13.31m, while Asha Ilango took gold with 13.89m, matching her lifetime best and establishing a new meet record.
Hoblidhar’s 10.30s semifinal run advances him into the 100m last eight, and Nitisha and Priya Mohan have progressed to the women’s 400m final, setting up the next round of medal contests at the championships.