Manikanta returns from injury to win 100m title at National Open Athletics Championships

File Image: Manikanta Hoblidhar clocked 10.25 seconds to win the men’s 100m title at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Last year, Manikanta Hoblidhar became the first Indian man to go under 10.20 seconds in the 100m, setting a new national record and throwing down the gauntlet for the rest of the sprinters.

Cut to March this year and the Karnataka man, hoping to add international success to his growing list of achievements on the domestic circuit, broke down. A Grade 2 hamstring tear during the National Relay Championships led to the revelation of a blood clot in his tendons as well, throwing his entire year into disarray. He missed the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the World Relays but most importantly, he was left far behind on the track.

On Friday, the 24-year-old took the first steps back to national reckoning, clocking 10.25 seconds to win the men’s 100m title at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

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“I had targeted better timing here but an upset stomach since last night didn’t help. I also slowed towards the end because after such a long break, you are a little cautious. My biggest regret, however, is that my injury also affected the relay team and India’s chances of a medal. But now the body is fine and my aim is to clock 10.00 in the coming season,” Hoblidhar said, adding that there was still work to be done before gaining optimum fitness ahead of the next season. Lalu Prasad Bhoi was second in 10.43s and Lukik Melge third (10.45s).

In the women’s section, Aichi-Nagoya bronze medallist and national record holder Manpreet Kaur was the only shot-putter to cross the 17m mark, taking the top spot with a best throw of 17.07m. The 21-year-old Anjli, in her first national-level event, stunned the field including favourite Priya Mohan to clock a personal best of 53.37s in the 400m.

Moumita Mandal, also returning from an injury layoff, topped the heat before taking the 100m hurdles in 13.48 seconds. However, Servin Sebastian, leading all the way, was pushed to fourth spot in the race walk half marathon in the morning session after being adjudged of a technical violation and penalised two minutes for loss of contact.