New Delhi: India national record holder, Annu Rani finished seventh in the women’s javelin throw final with an effort of 61.12m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States.
Defending champion Kelsey-Lee Barber of Australia claimed gold with a massive throw of 66.91m. USA’s Kara Winger took the silver with a last-round effort of 64.05m and Haruka Kitagichi bagged the bronze, getting Japan its first medal at a javelin event at the Worlds with her final throw of 63.27m.
The Indian athlete had qualified for the final as eighth best in the qualification round with a throw of 59.60m. At the finals, Rani achieved her best throw in her second attempt but failed to cross the 60m mark in the other five throws. Her series read 56.18m, 61.12m, 59.27m, 58.14m, 59.98m, and 58.70m.
Rani had also reached the final at the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, but finished eight. Annu has a personal best of 63.82m, a national record, set in Jamshedpur in May earlier this year. Rani had qualified for her second consecutive WAC finals in her third appearance in the showpiece. She could not qualify for the finals in London after finishing 10th in her qualification group.
Neeraj Chopra will aim to become a world champion in the men’s javelin after making it to the final with a massive 88.39m throw in the qualification. Chopra was joined in the final by his compatriot Rohit Yadav as the 21-year-old recorded a best of 80.42m to finish 11th. The men’s javelin final will start at 07:05 am IST on Sunday.