Indian athlete Nayana James clinched the gold medal in the women’s long jump event at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 in Chinese Taipei on Sunday.
An Asian Athletics Championships bronze medallist, Nayana recorded a distance of 6.43m on her third attempt in the long jump final for the top step on the podium.
Nayana beat Japan’s Sumire Hata, the reigning Asian champion, for the gold medal. Hata won the silver with a best effort of 6.37m while Yu Jeongmi of the Republic of Korea settled for bronze with 6.14m.
This is the fourth podium of the season for Nayana who won the Indian Open Jumps Competition in March with a personal best of 6.67m and the Federation Cup last month. Nayana also won the silver medal at the Indian Grand Prix-1 in Bengaluru in April.
Nayana began the final with an invalid attempt. She recorded 6.21m on her second attempt and improved her lead with a 6.43m jump on the third try. The 28-year-old held on to the lead for the rest of the final to take the gold medal.
Ankesh Chaudhary of India won the gold medal in men’s 800m after clocking 1:50.63 – 0.25 seconds faster than compatriot Somnath Chauhan, who settled for silver. The two Indian athletes were followed by Lorana Hussein of the Philippines, who crossed the finish line in 1:51.37.
Ankesh has also won the Indian Grand Prix-1 and the Federation Cup this season. Somnath had finished second behind Ankesh at the Federation Cup.
India’s Dev Meena won the silver medal in the men’s pole vault with 5.10m. Yong fu Huang of Chinese Taipei also registered a leap of 5.10m but won the gold medal courtesy of fewer fouls. Chinese Taipei’s Huang Chen Chi took the bronze for a height of 4.80m.
On Saturday, DP Manu won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Taiwan Open athletics meet. Nithya Ramraj won the silver in the women’s 100m hurdles while Vismaya VK won the bronze in the women’s 400m race.
Indian athletes ended the Taiwan Open 2024 campaign with seven medals – three golds, three silvers and one bronze.