Kunwar Ajai Raj Singh Rana raised India's hopes of another medal in the javelin throw final at the World Athletics U-20 Championships before the Punjab youngster settled for the fifth place on the third day in Nairobi on Friday. The day also saw Shaili Singh advance to the women's long jump final, topping the qualification round.
Shaili, one of India's brightest medal prospects in Nairobi, produced a best of 6.40m on her third attempt to soar into Sunday's final, well clear of the qualification mark set at 6.35m.
The 17-year-old Jhansi girl, who trains under Robert Bobby George, opened with a big jump that was just a centimetre short of the qualification mark. She then dipped to 5.98m before jumping back to the top of Group B.
Maya Askag (Sweden, 6.39m) and Lissandra Campos (Brazil, 6.36m) also won automatic final berths.
"Her target was between 6.35 to 6.40m and I'm happy that she managed it. Even her jump was a big one but only that her hand touched down," George told TOI from Nairobi.
George, who helped his wife Anju Bobby George win the bronze at the 2003 Paris Worlds, is confident that Shaili can jump in the 6.50 to 6.60m range in the final. "Shaili is competing in her first international meet. Yet, she is not afraid of her rivals in the final as she knows they have not shown consistent form," Robert said.
Rana produced his best of 73.68m in the fourth attempt. Janne Laspa (Finland, 76.46m) took the gold followed by Artur Felfner (Ukraine, 76.32) and Nigerian Chinecherem Nnamdi. (74.48) . The other Indian in the fray, Jay Kumar was sixth with a best of 70.74m.
Among others, Nandini A advanced to the semifinals in women's 100m hurdles before crashing out. Those who failed to progress were Tejas Shirse (men's 110m hurdles), Pooja (women's 1500m), Sunil (men's 3000m steeplechase) and Shanmuga Srinivas (men's 200m).
