Published: September 3, 2026 at 11:57 am
In a battle between two comeback queens of quarter-mile, Priya Mohan got past Rupal Chaudhary to emerge victorious in the women’s 400m at the 15th leg of the Indian Athletics Series 2026 at the Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium in Meerut on Wednesday.
Priya clocked 54.21s to finish ahead of Rupal, who crossed the line in 54.89s. Manisha completed the top three in 55.36s. The 23-year-old Priya is a World Under-20 Championships silver and bronze medallist in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Both Priya and Rupal were part of the Indian quartet that won silver at the World Under-20 Championships 2022 in Cali with an Asian Under-20 record of 3:17.76.
Priya returned to last year after suffering a collapsed lung in 2023
Priya’s career was, however, interrupted by a collapsed lung in 2023 before she gradually returned to racing last year.
Rupal, who won an individual 400m silver at the Asian Athletics Championships last year, was making her comeback after being sidelined with a knee injury.
Priya also finished in the top three in the women’s 200m, clocking 24.78s for third place. Harita Bhadra won in 23.36s while Nimeksha Siddi was second in 24.67s.
In the women’s hammer throw, National record holder Anushka Yadav produced a best effort of 64.92m to comfortably top the field. Neha Swami finished second with 52.22m while Poonam Jakhar was third with 48.47m.
The 18-year-old Anushka, who has been named in India’s Asian Games 2026 athletics team, holds the national record of 67.02m set at the Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar in June.
Anushka’s effort on Wednesday also marked a strong response after she finished second to Tanya Chaudhary with a 61.03m throw at the previous Indian Athletics Series leg in Panchkula.
Kurian edges Olympian Ajmal in men’s 400m
In the men’s 400m, Mijo Chacko Kurian pipped Olympian Muhammed Ajmal by one-hundredth of a second. Mijo clocked 46.89s while Ajmal finished in 46.90s. Rashid was third in 47.28s.
Ajmal had also finished second at the previous leg of the meet in Panchkula, where Vikrant Panchal beat him to the top spot.
Several athletes extended their winning runs on the Indian Athletics Series circuit. Sandeep Singh won the men’s 100m in 10.65s, Akhil K A topped the men’s 800m in 1:51.31 and Nirbhay Choudhary won the men’s hammer throw with 66.47m after all three had also prevailed in Panchkula.
Manoj Kumar won the men’s javelin event with a best effort of 77.82m after also topping the event at the Warangal leg last month.
The Indian Athletics Final Series, an invitation-only competition, will be held in New Delhi on September 10. The AFI has said athletes will be invited based on their 2026 rankings.
Results: Women’s 100m: 1. Avantika Narale (12.25s); 2. Kanishka Manchanda (12.40s); 3. Aliza Mulla (12.44s).
200m: 1. Harita Bhadra (23.36s); 2. Nimeksha Siddi (24.67s); 3. Priya Mohan (24.78s).
400m: 1. Priya Mohan (54.21s); 2. Rupal Chaudhary (54.89s); 3. Manisha (55.36s).
800m: 1. Tanvi Malik (2:12.16); 2. Pranjal Vinod Bachche (2:13.08); 3. Gug Kaur (2:13.76).
1500m: 1. Ruhi Bohra (4:38.11); 2. Ujala (4:39.49); 3. Chanchal Jakhad (4:40.90).
100m hurdles: 1. Anjali C (13.36s); 2. Pranjali Dilip Patil (13.91s); 3. Aliza Mulla (14.43s).
High jump: 1. Rimpal Kaur (1.64m); 2. Samapti Ghosh (1.64m); 3. Sakshi Parit (1.55m).
Long jump: 1. Ankita Chaudhary (5.73m); 2. Deepti (5.72m); 3. Sivapriya E S (5.58m).
Triple jump: 1. Meera Shibu (12.65m); 2. Rinku Choudhary (12.27m); 3. Manali Chauhan (12.11m).
Shot put: 1. Rakhi Sangwan (13.94m); 2. Shikha Pawar (13.10m); 3. Tamanna (12.57m).
Hammer throw: 1. Anushka Yadav (64.92m); 2. Neha Swami (52.22m); 3. Poonam Jakhar (48.47m).
Javelin throw: 1. Ishika Singh (45.03m); 2. Khushee Yadav (42.34m); 3. Saroj Devi (41.85m).
Men’s 100m: 1. Sandeep Singh (10.65s); 2. Savin Thingalaya (10.66s); 3. Nikhil Sarjerao Patil (10.77s).
200m: 1. Adesh Garsa (21.39s); 2. Mijo Chacko Kurian (21.41s); 3. Ruchit Mori (21.50s).
400m: 1. Mijo Chacko Kurian (46.89s); 2. Muhammed Ajmal V (46.90s); 3. Rashid (47.28s).
800m: 1. Akhil K A (1:51.31); 2. Virender (1:51.84); 3. Aman Ojha (1:51.92).
1500m: 1. Manpreet (3:51.39); 2. Prabhjot Singh (3:51.76); 3. Pravin Chaudhari (3:51.93).
110m hurdles: 1. Sandeep Vinodkumar Gond (14.40s); 2. Sachin Binu (14.42s); 3. Shivdarshan (14.93s).
High jump: 1. Aaditya Raghuvanshi (2.10m); 2. Uchchaal Kumar Roy (2.00m); 3. Arnav Tyagi (1.95m).
Long jump: 1. Chandrashekhar (7.71m); 2. C Tharun Vikash (7.48m); 3. Saran S (7.48m).
Triple jump: 1. Shaheer Rizvee (15.13m); 2. Radhe Shyam (15.10m); 3. Ashok Kumar (14.88m).
Shot put: 1. Ramchandra Mali (15.91m); 2. Balaji (15.83m); 3. Malkeet Singh (15.74m).
Hammer throw: 1. Nirbhay Choudhary (66.47m); 2. Mukul (62.54m); 3. Amit Pundir (62.36m).
Javelin throw: 1. Manoj Kumar (77.82m); 2. Bibin Antony (73.94m); 3. Vikash Sharma (73.07m).
