How did Ankita Dhyani qualify for Paris Olympics 2024?
Indian distance runner Ankita Dhyani made a late entry into the Paris Olympics 2024 after the World Athletics released the updated final rankings list following reallocations after an undisclosed player pulled out of the Summer Games in Paris. She will compete in the women’s 5000m race event.
In February this year, she bagged a silver medal at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at the Aftab e Enghelab Sports Complex in Tehran, clocking 9:26.22 seconds in the women’s 5000m race, making it her first major medal in professional competitions.
Earlier, she secured gold medals in the Khelo India Youth Games in both 5000m and 1500m events in 2019 and 2020 in Pune and Guwahati. Also, she bagged the gold medal in the 1500m event in the Junior Nationals in Ranchi.
Later in January 2021, she clinched the gold medal in the 1500m and 5000m events at the Federation Cup U20 Championships. Additionally, she finished at the eighth spot in the World U20 Athletics Championships in 2021.
Subsequently, in 2021, Ankita Dhyani broke the U20 National Record at the Junior Nationals in Guwahati, clocking 16:21.19 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Sunita Rani, who clocked 16:21.59 seconds.
In the same year, she also bagged a bronze medal at the Inter-State athletics in Patiala, clocking 16:58.07 seconds.
Ankita Dhyani grew up training with big boys
Ankita, hailing from Marod village in Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, started training and practicing with the big boys in her village. Further, she used to train at a high altitude of 1400m to enhance her capabilities.
In 2022, she secured her 10000m race gold medal at the Open Nationals in Bengaluru, clocking 34:39.95 seconds.
After doing well in 1500m and 5000m events, Ankita Dhyani completely shifted her focus to the 5000m race event for the outdoor season. She bagged gold medals in the Federation Cup, National Open, and two Indian Grand Prix events.
Additionally in 2022, she settled for the bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, clocking 16:03.33 seconds. Moreover, her personal best came at the Asian Games in 2023, clocking 15:33.03 seconds, taking the fifth rank.