Nayana James Wins Gold Medal at Taiwan Athletics Open in Long Jump
The women’s long jump competition at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 in Chinese Taipei saw Indian competitor Nayana James win the gold medal on Sunday.
In wet conditions at Taipei Municipal Stadium, bronze medallist Nayana from the Asian Athletics Championships crossed the finish line with a distance of 6.43 meters.
To win the gold medal, Nayana defeated the current Asian champion, Sumire Hata of Japan. With a best attempt of 6.37 meters, Hata took home the silver, and Yu Jeongmi of the Republic of Korea had to settle for bronze with 6.14 meters.
Nayana, who won the Federation Cup last month and the Indian Open Jumps Competition in March with a personal best of 6.67m, is on her fourth podium of the season. In April, during the Indian Grand Prix-1 in Bengaluru, Nayana also took home the silver medal.
Nayana made a bad attempt to start the final. On her second effort, she jumped 6.21 meters, and on her third attempt, she increased her lead to 6.43 meters. The 28-year-old won the gold medal by maintaining the lead for the duration of the competition.
In the men’s 800 meters, Ankesh Chaudhary of India won the gold medal with a time of 1:50.63, finishing 0.25 seconds ahead of fellow countryman Somnath Chauhan, who took home the silver. Lorana Hussein of the Philippines crossed the finish line in 1:51.37, trailing the two Indian runners.
This season, Ankesh has also won the Federation Cup and the Indian Grand Prix-1. Somnath had placed second in the Federation Cup, trailing only Ankesh.
Dev Meena of India won the silver medal in the men’s 5.10-meter pole vault. Despite recording a 5.10-meter leap as well, Yong fu Huang of Chinese Taipei was awarded the gold medal due to fewer fouls. Huang Chen Chi of Taipei, China, won bronze with a height of 4.80 meters.
At the Taiwan Open athletics tournament on Saturday, DP Manu took home the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw. In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Nithya Ramraj took home the silver medal, and in the 400-meter event, Vismaya VK took home the bronze.
Seven medals were won by Indian athletes at the Taiwan Open 2024: three gold, three silver, and one bronze.
