National Open Athletics C'ships: Manikanta Hoblidhar becomes 2nd Indian to run sub-10.20s

Manikanta Hoblidhar stormed back to the top of Indian sprinting on Sunday, clinching gold in the men’s 100 metres final at the 64th National Open Athletics Championships with a personal best and meet record of 10.19s.

What made the feat even more remarkable was the context: Hoblidhar achieved the mark in wet conditions at the Birsa Munda Stadium, running into a -0.6 m/s headwind as rain fell on the track. Despite the odds, the 24-year-old from SSCB powered to victory, regaining the title he had first won in 2023.

On Saturday, Hoblidhar had already underlined his intent by equaling his meet record of 10.23s in the semifinals, qualifying as the fastest into the final. He hinted that he had “held something back” for the medal race, and on Sunday he duly delivered.

The 10.19s timing inches him closer to Animesh Kujur’s national record of 10.18s set earlier this year, underscoring how fiercely competitive Indian sprinting has become.

Maharashtra’s Pranav Gaurav finished second with a time of 10.31s, while 21-year-old Harsh Raut of Services claimed the bronze in 10.38s, completing the podium.

In the women’s 100m, Sneha SS of Karnataka took gold with a timing of 11.62s, while the men’s 400m was won by Olympian Rajesh Ramesh, clocking a season-best 45.75s, and the women’s 400m title went to Neeru Pathak of Uttar Pradesh in 52.85s.

Tamil Nadu’s Gobika K won the women’s high jump gold at 1.79m but unfortunately injured her right knee on the last jump and had to be hospitalized.