World Athletics Championships 2022: Annu Rani qualifies for the final of the Javelin Throw

India's Annu Rani qualified for the women's Javelin Throw final at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Oregon on Wednesday. As an Indian, she set the precedent of reaching the final twice in a row in this competition. The javelin thrower went before the finals of the 2019 Doha World Championships.

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Annu was in Group B in the qualifying round of the World Athletics Championships 2022. Though her first throw was rejected, the 29-year-old threw 55.35 meters in the second attempt. In the last attempt, Annu threw the javelin at a distance of 59.60m. Although she reached the finals of the World Championships, she couldn't reach the finals of the Tokyo Olympics. Annu finished 14th in the qualifying round there. She threw the javelin at a distance of 54.04 meters at that time.

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Annu broke her own National record by throwing the javelin at a distance of 63.82 meters at the India Open in Jamshedpur in May. She is the first Indian from Uttar Pradesh who reached the World Athletics final. Only at the age of 18, Annu participated in the Javelin competition for the first time.

"I was nervous for the last throw because I could have fouled and not made the cut, but I went ahead and made the attempt. I am not happy. I didn't do well. But I have reached the final, so I'll try to do well there,"

Annu Rani said

Annu, who claimed that her body didn't respond well enough during her attempts, was placed eighth overall among 29 athletes.

"The first throw was not good, and I fouled, the second was 55m, and then slowly the body started warming up"

She added

Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan topped the qualifying round with 64.32m. China's Liu Shiying was second (63.86m). Liveta Jasiunaite of Lithuania finished third with a throw of 63.80m. Annu will play the final on Saturday, 23rd July. Before that, Neeraj Chopra will come down on Friday morning and will enter the qualification stage.