Shaili Singh leaps to long-jump gold at National Open Athletics Championship

The 18-year-old, who won the silver medal at the 2021 World Junior meet, came up with her season's best leap of 6.41m on her last attempt that put her seasoned rivals to shade. National Games champion Nayana James of Kerala, nine years Shaili's senior, had a best of 6.22m but lost the silver on countback to teammate L Sruthilekshmi, an intervarsity silver medallist, who had a second best jump of 6.20m against Nayana's 6.19m.

Jakarta Asian Games silver medallist Neena V settled for the fourth place with a season's best of 6.21m. “It was difficult to come back from my back injury as it took me nine months to recover.

Then came the hairline fracture of the toe that forced me out of the 2022 World Juniors. This is my first Open Nationals and it’s a big motivation for me to compete with the seniors,” an elated Shaili told reporters.