Indian Shot Putter Tajinder Pal Toor Shatters Own Asian Record, Qualifies For World Championships

India's top shot putter Tajinder Pal Toor on Monday shattered his own Asian record with a huge throw of 21.77m on the concluding day of the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar to qualify for the World Championships. The 28-year-old Toor, representing Punjab, bettered his own Asian record of 21.49m, which he had set in 2021 at Patiala, with his third-round throw of 21.77m -- the ninth-longest distance in the world this season -- at the Kalinga Stadium. The World Championships qualifying mark is 21.40m.

He also qualified for the Asian Games for which the qualifying mark is 19m.

Toor, the reigning Asian Games gold medallist, began with a bang as he cleared the 20m mark straightway with his opening throw of 21.09m. His second throw was a foul before he produced the Asian record-breaking effort. He then had two fouls before passing the final attempt.

Toor's Punjab statemate Karanveer Singh finished second with a throw of 19.78m to also qualify for the Asian Games, while Jyothi Yarraji, who won gold medals in 100m and 100m hurdles, was named the best female athlete.

"My training had gone as per plan and I was prepared to go past the 21m barrier," an elated Toor said.

"My next plan is to break the 22m barrier." Star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar produced his fourth career-best effort of 8.29m to easily win gold.

The 24-year-old Sreeshankar, representing Kerala, achieved his best of the day in the second round after opening with 8.03m. His next four jumps were fouls.

Jeswin Aldrin of Tamil Nadu was second on Monday with a best effort of 7.98m. He also breached the Asian Games qualifying mark of 7.95m.

Sreeshankar, the third Indian Diamond League medal winner after securing a bronze in the Paris leg earlier this