Federation Cup Athletics 2023: Jyothi Yarraji, Amlan Borgohain, Jinson Johnson deliver gold

Jyothi Yarraji the star athlete bagged two gold medals at the Federations Cup

Reliance Foundation’s athletes were in sizzling form at the 26th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi as they bagged a rich medal haul of 14 medals. Jyothi Yarraji (women’s 100m hurdles and women’s 200m), Amlan Borgohain (men’s 200m), Jinson Johnson (men’s 1500m), Tejas Shirse (men’s 110m hurdles) and Rosy Meena Paulraj (women’s pole vault) were the gold medal winners.

Jyothi and Amlan dominated the women’s and men’s 200m events to win golds on the final day of the Championships in Ranchi. James Hillier, Athletics Director, Reliance Foundation was pleased with the overall display. “This is easily our best-ever medal tally at an edition of the championships. We are very happy with the results as most of the athletes have not only won medals but also sealed qualification for the Asian Athletics Championships.

"What has been really pleasing to see is the progress that our younger athletes have made. Susmita Tigga finished a creditable fourth in the 3000m steeplechase event. Young Jayaram won a bronze in the 100m event, while Animesh’s 200m silver was very impressive too. The people that we expected to deliver are delivering.”

Jinson Johnson's comeback story

Reigning Asian Games 1500m champion Jinson Johnson also continued his strong comeback as he won gold in the 1500m event, clocking a time of 3:44.43. Johnson, who is a Reliance Foundation Scholarship athlete, also made the cut for the Asian Athletics Championships with his timing in the final.

"I was pleased to get the win, and it feels good to get some races under my belt after a long time away from the track. I have received a lot of support from the Reliance Foundation over the last four years during my injury and subsequent rehab, and am gradually feeling more confident about my performances. I am now looking forward to competing internationally to get myself in the best shape as the season progresses, with the Asian Championships and Asian Games being my target events," Jinson said after the final.

The Gold rush continues

Jyothi won her second gold in this edition after previously finishing top in the 100m hurdles event. Amlan, who had set the national record in the 200m in the previous edition, won gold yet again, with Animesh Kujur winning silver to ensure a 1-2 finish for Reliance Foundation athletes in the men’s 200m event.

Jyothi’s timing of 23.42s in the 200m final was a new personal best for her in the event. It also saw her make the cut for the Asian Championships, which had a qualification standard of 23.50s.

Similarly, Amlan also won gold for the second successive edition, running a time of 20.83s in the final. Animesh won silver with a timing of 20.94s. He had previously run his personal best of 20.93s in the heats.

Jyothi and Tejas Shirse’s excellent 2023 continued as both of them broke meet records in their respective events at the championships. Jyothi broke her own record of 13.43s in the women’s 100m hurdles event, which she had set at the previous edition in 2022 by running a blistering time of 12.89s in the final in challenging conditions. She was joined on the podium be fellow Reliance Foundation athlete Sapna Kumari, who won bronze with a timing of 13.58s.

Both Jyothi and Sapna’s time also breached the qualification mark for the Asian Athletics Championship, sealing their qualification for the continental championships.