Anushka Yadav Clinches Another Hammer Throw Title With 64.92m at Indian Athletics Series in Meerut

Anushka Yadav continued her impressive rise in Indian athletics by adding another title to her name, producing a best throw of 64.92m to win the women's hammer throw at Indian Athletics Series-15 in Meerut.

The 18-year-old from Uttar Pradesh returned to competition for the first time since producing the biggest performance of her young career at the Inter-State Athletics Championships. And while she could not match that national-record mark on her return, her 64.92m effort was enough to comfortably put her at the top of the field.

More importantly, the performance underlined that her record-breaking throw was not an isolated breakthrough.

Yadav produced a best effort of 64.92m in Meerut, making it the second-best throw of her career across competitions. Her series consisted of 61.91m, a foul, another foul, 64.92m, a third foul and 59.71m. Despite three invalid attempts, the national record holder had already done enough with her fourth throw to secure the title.

The 64.92m mark was particularly encouraging given that this was Yadav's first competition since her record-breaking performance at the Inter-State Championships.

Her ability to immediately return with a throw beyond 64 metres suggests that she has maintained a high level of performance despite the break from competition.

From 64.92m to a 67.02m national record

Just a few weeks earlier, Yadav had announced herself as one of the most exciting young names in Indian athletics with a stunning 67.02m throw at the Inter-State Athletics Championships. That effort bettered the Indian national record and represented a significant leap for the teenager.

The performance also brought another major reward: Yadav qualified for the 2026 Asian Games. At just 18, she is now expected to represent India at the continental multi-sport event, giving her a potentially significant opportunity to test herself against some of Asia's leading hammer throwers.

The progression is particularly notable because Yadav has now demonstrated the ability to produce performances in the mid-60-metre range consistently, rather than relying on a single exceptional attempt.

The Indian Athletics Series-15 title gives Yadav another competitive result to build on as she prepares for what could be a landmark period in her career. Winning after a short competition break is important from a confidence perspective. Her 64.92m mark was well below her national record of 67.02m, but it remained comfortably strong enough to put her at the top of the competition.

The three fouls in her six-attempt series also indicate that there was room for improvement in Meerut. With more competitions ahead, Yadav will have opportunities to refine her technique, improve consistency and attempt to push closer to or beyond her national record.

The biggest target for Yadav is likely to be the 2026 Asian Games. Her qualification has already transformed the outlook for the teenager. Having broken the national record and secured her place at the Asian Games, she will now have the chance to gain experience on one of the biggest stages in Asian athletics.

For an 18-year-old, the experience itself could be as valuable as the result.

The hammer throw requires a combination of strength, speed, balance and technical precision, and athletes often continue developing these attributes over several years. Yadav's age gives her considerable time to build on the foundation she has established.

Her latest performance suggests the national-record throw in the 67-metre range has raised the benchmark for what can now be expected from her.

Yadav's emergence is another positive development for Indian athletics, particularly in a field event where sustained international success requires long-term development. The 67.02m national record brought immediate attention, but the more important question was always whether she could reproduce high-level performances after the breakthrough.

Her 64.92m effort in Meerut provides an encouraging early answer. It was not another national record, but it was a winning performance and the second-best throw of her career. That combination makes the result significant.

Yadav now moves forward with a national record already under her belt, an Indian Athletics Series title and qualification for the Asian Games. The next step will be to turn these promising performances into sustained progression.

At 18, Anushka Yadav is still at the beginning of her senior career. But with a 67.02m national record already on the books and another 64.92m title-winning throw following it, the hammer thrower from Uttar Pradesh has given Indian athletics plenty of reason to watch her progress closely.