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Neil Samraj R breaks U18 200m national record at National Junior Athletics Championships

Tamil Nadu’s Neil Samraj R broke the men’s U18 200m national record with a 21.03-second run at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai. Bhavana G and Anshu set meet records, while Tamil Nadu topped the overall team standings

By Telangana Today

Published Date - 27 October 2026, 11:53 PM

Neil Samraj R breaks U18 200m national record at National Junior Athletics Championships

Hyderabad: Tamil Nadu sprinter Neil Samraj R broke the men’s U18 200m national record on the final day of the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

Neil won gold in 21.03 seconds, bettering the previous national record of 21.08 seconds set by Abhay Singh three years ago.

The previous meet record of 21.28 seconds belonged to Pratik Maharana. Neil emerged as the most successful sprinter in the men’s U18 category, having also won the 100m gold in 10.45 seconds, a national record. He was named the best athlete in the men’s U18 category.

The women’s U20 200m meet record was also broken on the final day. Tamil Nadu’s Bhavana G won gold in 23.82 seconds, bettering Neeru Pathak’s previous record of 24.05 seconds.

Tamil Nadu won the overall team championship with 317.2 points, followed by Haryana with 303 points.

Final-day results (Tuesday)

Men — U20

200m: Savin Thingalaya (Karnataka), 21.26 seconds; Ayush SR (Karnataka), 21.30 seconds; Arshdeep Singh (Punjab), 21.50 seconds.
400m hurdles: Jashanpreet Singh (Punjab), 51.51 seconds; Lusan Khamari (Odisha), 51.91 seconds; Sayan Mondal (West Bengal), 52.16 seconds.
3,000m steeplechase: Bikram Singh (Punjab), 9:01.04; MD Nooruddin (Delhi), 9:01.18; Sahil Kumar (Gujarat), 9:01.80.
Javelin throw: Dharanidharan T (Tamil Nadu), 76.18m; Rajat Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), 72.44m; Mangal Singh (Chandigarh), 71.21m.
Triple jump: Daksh Bishnoi (Punjab), 15.74m; Royshan P (Tamil Nadu), 15.40m; Akarshit Pratap Singh (Punjab), 15.40m.
4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu, 3:10.67; Kerala, 3:11.02; Haryana, 3:12.06.

Men — U18

200m: Neil Samraj R (Tamil Nadu), 21.03 seconds (national record); Lodenge Ramu (Telangana), 21.36; Manas Shinde (Maharashtra), 21.48.
1,000m: Dev (Haryana), 2:26.60; Hunny Yadav (Haryana), 2:26.71; Suraj Man Singh (Madhya Pradesh), 2:27.34.
High jump: Zubin Gohain (Assam), 2.10m; Sakthivel VN (Tamil Nadu), 2.08m; Ramanand Singh (Uttar Pradesh), 2.04m.

Women — U20

200m: Bhavana G (Tamil Nadu), 23.82 seconds (meet record); Kajal Vaja (Gujarat), 24.10; Nancy (Haryana), 24.26.
3,000m steeplechase: Mansi Yadav (Maharashtra), 10:54.35; Versha (Uttar Pradesh), 10:59.75; Roshini Kalura (Uttarakhand), 11:00.58.
Triple jump: Sadhana Ravi (Tamil Nadu), 13.22m; Shrihanisha P (Tamil Nadu), 12.28m; Sneha B (Gujarat), 12.28m.
Shot put: Anshu (Haryana), 15.58m (meet record; previous record 15.36m); Riya Verma (Haryana), 14.56m; Madhumitha V (Tamil Nadu), 13.79m.
4x400m relay: Tamil Nadu, 3:47.43; Maharashtra, 3:50.04; Jharkhand, 3:54.43.

Women — U18

200m: Bhoomika Nehate (Maharashtra), 24.21 seconds; Suchithra S (Karnataka), 24.52; T Mrithika (Tamil Nadu), 24.61.
1,000m: Deepika (Rajasthan), 2:55.22; A Thanishikaa A (Tamil Nadu), 2:55.37; Khushi Sharma (Haryana), 2:55.86.

Girls — U16