National junior athletics: Nitesh sets u-18 hammer record

That makes the 17-year-old the fourth best thrower in that age-group in the world this year.

Rajasthan’s Nitesh Poonia broke the under-18 boys hammer throw national record by a massive six metres.

Rajasthan’s Nitesh Poonia broke the under-18 boys hammer throw National record by a massive six metres, taking it from 75.45m to 81.47m, in the 34th National junior athletics championships in Ranchi on Sunday.

That makes the 17-year-old the fourth best thrower in that age-group in the world this year.

Gujarat shot putter Danish Makwana broke the under-14 boys National record with a 18.03m effort while in the under-16 category, Haryana’s Pankaj Verma equalled the National record with a 7.27m effort in long jump.

The race walkers were in the spotlight too with Haryana's Parveen Kumar (under-18 boys, 10,000m, 42:41.68s) and Amit (under-16 boys 5000m, 21:17.63s) bettering National records.