Toor Claims Shot Put Gold; Lohakare Favoured in Javelin
Patiala, Punjab - The 5th Indian Open Throws Competition, held on March 7th and 8th, 2026, saw seasoned athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor secure the men's shot put title with a throw of 20.51 meters. This performance, his season's best, was achieved on the opening day of the event at the National Institute of Sports premises. Toor, a two-time Asian Games champion, surpassed the 20-meter mark on multiple attempts, including throws of 20.02m and 20.07m, suggesting a return to form.
While Toor solidified his position in the shot put arena, attention also turns to the javelin throw, where Ankit Lohakare emerged as a strong contender. The 20-year-old Lohakare, noted for breaking Neeraj Chopra's inter-services championship record last year, is aiming to surpass his personal best of 84.31 meters. His performance at this event, though unratified, has positioned him as the favorite in his discipline. The competition also marks a potential resurgence for Shubhankar Jena, once considered Chopra's rival, who seeks to reclaim his standing in the sport.
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Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured the men's shot put gold with a throw of 20.51m, his season's best. Ankit Lohakare is highlighted as the favorite for the men's javelin throw, with aspirations to exceed his personal best of 84.31m.
The event, organized by the Punjab Athletics Association in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of India, features a comprehensive lineup of throwing disciplines across various age groups, including Men's and Women's Open, Under-18, and Under-20 categories. Implement weights vary according to age and competition level, ranging from 1.00-1.500 kg for women and 6.00-7.260 kg for men in the open and under-20 categories.
Shot Put Rivalries and Javelin Aspirations
The men's shot put competition presented a keen contest, with Toor facing significant pressure from Samardeep Singh Gill. Both athletes have demonstrated dominance in domestic events over the past two years, each claiming four victories. However, Samardeep had taken the honours in the most recent four encounters leading up to this competition. Despite this, Toor's performance at the Indian Open Throws, which included an earlier throw of 20.05m at the Asian Indoor Championships last month, indicates his capacity to contend at a high level. Another contender in the shot put was Karanveer Singh, who finished second to Toor with a throw of 19.36m, followed by Sanyam at 18.28m.
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In the women's events, Soniya claimed the discus throw title with a mark of 52.29 meters, edging out Jyoti who threw 52.16 meters. The women's shot put saw Samardeep Singh Gill participating, though reports indicate he finished 11th in that category, a contrast to his expected challenge in the men's event.
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The Patiala meet will not serve as a qualification event for either the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games.
Context and Background
The Indian Open Throws Competition serves as a platform for athletes to fine-tune their performance ahead of major international events. While this particular meet does not function as a direct qualification pathway for upcoming Commonwealth or Asian Games, it offers crucial opportunities for athletes like Toor to assess their current form and readiness for a demanding season. The Athletics Federation of India is using such domestic meets to gauge athlete progress and prepare for broader competitive calendars.
The event itself represents one of the most extensive domestic throwing competitions in India, bringing together a significant cohort of the nation's throwing talent. The previous edition, the 4th Indian Open Throws Competition, took place in 2025, underscoring the annual nature of this significant fixture in the Indian athletics calendar.