Kishore Kumar Jena clinches gold with new PB in Sri Lanka National Championships 2023

Seema won India's second medal in the competition by winning the women's 10,000m event.

India's Kishore Kumar Jena claimed the gold medal by spearing the Javelin to 84.38m — personal best mark — in the Sri Lanka National Athletics Championships 2023. His compatriot Shivpal Yadav finished second with a best mark of 77.36m. After a below average performance in the Lebonan Championships last week, Kishore Kumar Jena found form again in Sri Lanka, going past the 80m mark and in the process has taken another step close to booking himself a spot in the World Championships via the rankings route.

In the current Road to Budapest rankings, Jena is placed 39th and this performance could see him go into the top 36. If he qualifies, then four Indian Javelin throwers will be seen in action at the World Championships next month with Neeraj Chopra earning a wildcard entry after winning the Diamond League last year.

Kishore Kumar Jena from Odisha did not cross 80m even once till 2022 but this year has turned out to be his best. He started the year by winning the first place at the National Open throws event and then for the first time breached the 80m mark by recording 81.05m at the Indian Grand Prix.

He finished second in the Inter-States meet held last month recording a then personal best mark of 82.87m. Fast forward within a month's time has once again created a new PB.

Other Indians in the fray, national record holder Siva Subaramani finished second in men's pole vault by clearing 4.90m; way below his season best and national record mark. Seema in the 10,000m secured India its second gold medal.

There are several Indians lined up to take part in other events with Olympian Annu Rani, Santhosh among the top athletes yet to compete.