Javelin thrower Annu Rani smashed her own national record and in the process became the first Indian woman to cross the 60m mark on the third and penultimate day of the 56th Open National Athletics Championships in Lucknow. Annu, who won a bronze in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, threw the javelin to a distance of 60.01m to erase her own earlier national mark of 59.87m which she made in July during the National Inter-State Championships in Hyderabad. 24-year-old Annu was representing Railways.

Did You Know?

• The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length, is thrown.
• The javelin was part of the pentathlon of the Ancient Olympic Games beginning in 708 BC, in two disciplines, distance and target throw.
• The first official world record in the men’s javelin throw was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912. Over time, distances thrown progressed significantly, and the 100 m mark was passed by Uwe Hohn in 1984.
• Unlike the other throwing events (shotput, discus, and hammer), the technique used to throw the javelin is dictated by IAAF rules and “non-orthodox” techniques are not permitted.
• The javelin must be held at its grip and thrown overhand, over the athlete’s shoulder or upper arm. Further, the athlete is prohibited from turning completely around such that his back faces the direction of throw.