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Asian Games 2023: Parul and Annu Wins Gold
Athletics of the Indian contingent were the show’s stars on Day 10 of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou. Thirty-one years Annu Rani and twenty-eight years Parul Choudhary arose with their best at the crunch, securing the country’s first gold medals in women’s 5000m and javelin throw respectively in the Asian Games, contributing to the nation making an accelerated run towards its greatest ever medal pull-off in the Asiad by Indians.
Parul Chaudhary, a long-distance runner hailing from India grabbed her second medal in the Asian Games 2023 on the 3rd of October, 2023. She put on a great performance and great effort to clinch the gold medal in the finals of the Women’s 5000m in Hangzhou, China.
In the beginning, she was in the fourth spot of the 10-lap race. For most of the 5000m race, she stayed in the fourth spot but in the remaining 3 laps to go, she put her every bit of strength, making her way ahead of every other athlete, and reached the pace of Japan’s athlete Ririka. Ririka Hironaka was in the first spot from the start of the race. Up until the last 50 meters of the lap, Parul remained behind Ririka and unleashed her final burners right after. Ririka was losing her leg strength in the last few meters and was running out of stamina. She expected a late move from Parul from the outside lane putting on a late acceleration pick-up and emerging as the winner of the race.
As for Annu Rani, she clinched the gold medal in the Women’s Javelin Throw in the Asian Games 2023, making India proud with her exceptional display of talent and effort. This victory marks an important milestone in her career as recorded the season’s best throw of 62.92 meters making this her first-ever gold secured in an international event. Rani’s first throw was 56.99 meters and immediately took the lead in her second throw with 61.28 meters. But when Srinlankan athlete Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge scored 61.57 meters, this temporarily put Annu in the second spot but not for too long. Annu Rani scored a total of 62.92 meters in the fourth attempt which the rest of the competitors couldn’t beat till the end. This performance of Annu Rani gained her a gold medal in the Asiad 2023. This was India’s sixth medal in athletics on Tuesday, 3rd October 2023.
Annu had previously stated that she had gone into depression because despite her abilities and skills she was able to produce which entitled her to India’s best Javelin thrower bagging medals in the Asian and Commonwealth Games & even qualified for the Olympics and World Athletics Championships. However, she wasn’t able to secure the gold medal. The 31-year-old made the best use of her conditions claiming the gold medal in the Asiad 2023.
Apart from these, Vithya Ramraj secured the bronze medal in women’s 400 m hurdles with her amazing performance. On the other hand, India’s Preeti Pawar won the bronze medal in the women’s 54kg category in boxing in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, on Tuesday, October 3. In addition to these, Tejashwin Shankar and Mohammed Afsal of India delivered spectacular performances in the Asian Games, clinching silver medals in the men’s decathlon and 800m sprint respectively.
With this, India currently has a total of 69 medals which includes 15 golds, 26 silvers, and 28 bronzes. The medal tally is one less from equalling their haul at the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018.
