Nayana James, an Asian Athletics Championships bronze medalist, etched her name in glory by clinching the gold medal in the women’s long jump event at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 held in Chinese Taipei. Braving rainy conditions at the Taipei Municipal Stadium, Nayana recorded an impressive distance of 6.43m to secure the top spot on the podium.
Nayana’s remarkable performance saw her surpass Japan’s Sumire Hata, the reigning Asian champion, who claimed the silver medal with a best effort of 6.37m. Yu Jeongmi of the Republic of Korea secured the bronze medal with a jump of 6.14m.
Other Indian Medalists
The Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 witnessed a brilliant performance from Indian athletes, with several other medal achievements:
- Ankesh Chaudhary won the gold medal in the men’s 800m race, clocking an impressive 1:50.63, outpacing compatriot Somnath Chauhan, who claimed the silver medal.
- Dev Meena secured the silver medal in the men’s pole vault event with a height of 5.10m.
- In the men’s javelin throw, DP Manu clinched the gold medal.
- Nithya Ramraj won the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles.
- Vismaya VK bagged the bronze medal in the women’s 400m race.
A Successful Campaign
The Indian contingent’s performance at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 was remarkable, with the athletes securing a total of seven medals – three golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
Nayana James’ gold medal in the long jump event, along with her consistent performances throughout the season, including a personal best of 6.67m at the Indian Open Jumps Competition in March and a win at the Federation Cup last month, further solidified her position as one of India’s top long jumpers.