Birmingham: Annu Rani qualified World Athletics Championships (WAC) for the javelin throw finals with the best attempt throw of 59.60m. Although, it is well below her season’s best, but ensured her second consecutive finals in the World Championships. Annu was on the verge of ending her campaign after starting with a foul throw and 53.35m on her second try. She finished fifth in the Group B qualification round and made it to the finals as the eight best across the two groups.
Earlier in May, the 29-year-old national record holder has broken her own national record with a throw of 63.82m while winning gold during the Indian Open Javelin Throw Competition in Jamshedpur. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will compete in the qualification round Group A of the men’s javelin throw on Friday.
Meanwhile, dope shame struck India just a few days ahead of a multi-sport event as sprinter S Dhanalakshmi and triple jumper Aishwarya Babu have returned positive for banned drugs. Both have been ruled out and have been handed provisional suspensions.
“Dhanalakshmi tested positive in a dope test conducted by AIU. She will not go for Birmingham CWC’, a top source privy to the development revealed. Dhanalakshmi was named to the CWG team for the 100m and 4x100m relay along with Dutee Chand, Hima Das, and Srabani Nanda.