National record holder Manikanta Hoblidhar made a triumphant return to competitive athletics by claiming the men's 100m gold medal at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Friday, delivering an impressive performance after a long injury layoff.
The 24-year-old sprinter from Karnataka clocked a solid time of 10.25 seconds to secure the top step of the podium, successfully navigating his first major test back on the track following months of painful rehabilitation and frustrating competitive absence due to physical setbacks.
Hoblidhar had previously captured national attention when he became the first Indian man to dip under 10.20 seconds in the 100m, establishing a new national record that firmly set a high benchmark for sprinting in the country and elevated expectations for his future.
However, his momentum was severely halted in March earlier in the year when he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring tear during the National Relay Championships, a serious medical issue that was further complicated by the shocking revelation of a blood clot in his tendons.
The double blow completely derailed his competitive schedule, forcing the sprinter to miss major international multi-sport events including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, alongside the World Relays, leaving him desperately fighting to catch up in training.
Reflecting on his victory and the physical hurdles he had to overcome, the national record holder admitted that his preparation had not been entirely smooth in the lead-up to the final race in Chennai due to an unexpected health setback.
The athlete revealed that he had targeted a faster timing at the venue but was hindered by an upset stomach that began the night before the race, forcing him to adapt his approach and manage his energy carefully throughout the competition.
He also explained that he intentionally eased off his pace towards the end of the sprint because returning from such an extended absence naturally instils a degree of caution in an athlete's mind to avoid aggravating vulnerable muscles.
Expressing his lingering disappointment over his prolonged absence from the sport, Hoblidhar noted that his greatest regret during the layoff was how his inability to compete negatively impacted the national relay team and India's overall medal prospects.
Looking forward to the future, the sprinter confirmed that his physical condition has finally stabilised and revealed ambitious targets for his athletic career as he prepares for upcoming challenges and sets sights on breaking new barriers.
His immediate goal is to break the coveted 10.00-second barrier in the coming season, though he acknowledged that significant training and conditioning work remains ahead of him to reach his absolute optimum level of fitness.
In the battle for the remaining podium places in the men's 100m final, Lalu Prasad Bhoi delivered a strong performance to secure the second position with a timing of 10.43 seconds, claiming the silver medal.
Meanwhile, Lukik Melge rounded out the podium places by finishing closely behind in third position, clocking 10.45 seconds to secure the bronze medal in a competitive and tightly contested men's sprint final at the national championships.
The championship action extended beyond the men's sprint events, featuring notable performances and dramatic moments across various other track and field disciplines during the packed schedule at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
In the women's section, shot put national record holder Manpreet Kaur demonstrated her absolute dominance in the field event by asserting herself as the only competitor to successfully cross the 17-metre mark during the competition.
The talented athlete secured the gold medal in the women's shot put with a commanding best throw of 17.07 metres, further cementing her status as one of the country's premier throwing athletes following her bronze-medal success at the Aichi-Nagoya games.
There was also a stunning upset on the track in the women's 400m event, where 21-year-old Anjli delivered a remarkable performance in her very first national-level competition to surprise the entire field of established runners.
Anjli powered through the race to claim victory and register a personal best time of 53.37 seconds, managing to outpace pre-race favourite Priya Mohan in an impressive display of tactical maturity and raw speed.
In the women's 100m hurdles, Moumita Mandal also made a successful and encouraging return to competitive action following her own injury layoff, showcasing her readiness by topping the preliminary heat before dominating the final.
Mandal maintained her composure and technical precision to clinch the 100m hurdles gold medal with a respectable winning time of 13.48 seconds, proving that she has successfully worked her way back to peak competitive form.
However, the day was not without heartbreak and controversy for every competitor, as highlighted by the dramatic turn of events in the morning session during the men's race walk half marathon event.
Servin Sebastian had controlled the race walk half marathon from the very beginning, leading the field all the way and looking well on course to secure a comfortable victory in the endurance event.
His commanding lead came undone when judges penalised him for a technical violation regarding a loss of contact with the ground, resulting in a crucial two-minute penalty that severely impacted his final standing.
As a direct consequence of the time penalty applied by the officials, Sebastian was unceremoniously pushed down the standings to finish in fourth place, missing out on a hard-earned medal despite leading the majority of the race.
The 65th National Open Athletics Championships continue to provide a vital platform for athletes returning from injuries, youngsters making their mark, and established names testing their fitness ahead of an demanding international and domestic calendar.
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