Paris 2024 Olympics: What is Abha Khatua's personal best in shot put?
Abha Khatua will be a medal contender for the women's shot put event from India at the Paris Olympics 2024. She will look to begin her Olympics journey on a positive note on Thursday, August 8, when the women's qualification will kick off.
Khatua delivered her personal best and broke the national record at the Federation Cup in May 2024. She threw 18.41m in her fifth attempt to clinch a gold medal and went past Manpreet Kaur's throw of 18.06m, which she achieved at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2022 in Chennai.
The 28-year-old had returned with a record-equaling throw of 18.06m in the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 to secure a silver medal. However, a 16.39m throw at the National Inter-State Championships could not help her get a ticket to the Asian Games.
Although Khatua impressed the onlookers with a record-breaking throw of 18.41m, she missed the Paris Olympics qualification mark of 18.80m.
However, a gold medal-winning throw of 17.53m at the National Inter-State Championships helped her gain places in the Road to Paris rankings. After being placed 21st in the world rankings with 1,059 points, Abha Khatua qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Interestingly, Khatua will end the drought of Indian women's shot putters in the Games, as she will be the first female athlete to represent the country after Kaur in the Rio Olympics 2016.
Abha Khatua has had a sensational 2024
The talented shot putter has delivered consistent performances throughout the year so far. Abha Khatua has participated in six events and secured a gold medal in all of them.
Khatua's throws in each event this year:
#1 3rd Indian Open Throws Competition, Patiala - 17.56m
#2 Indian Grand Prix -1, Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, Bengaluru - 16.59
#3 National Federation Senior Athletics Competition, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar - 18.41
#4 Indian Grand Prix -2, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai - 17.13
#5 Indian Grand Prix – 3, Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, Bengaluru - 17.93
#6 Indian Championships, Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula - 17.63
With impressive performances leading up to the Paris Olympics, Khatua will look to breach the 19m mark to secure a podium finish.