Annu Rani became the first Indian to qualify for women's javelin throw final in IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019. Rani broke her own national record during the event at the competition being held in Doha, Qatar. With her 62.43-metre throw in the second round, she broke her earlier record of 62.34 metre to script new national record. She had set the earlier record at the Federation Cup in March 2019.

Annu Rani also qualified for the finals after finishing 5th in the qualifying event. Those who touch the automatic qualifying mark of 63.50m during a throw or 12 best performers from Group A and Group B rounds taken together, qualify for the final round. The final round will be conducted on Tuesday, October 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Clinches Title in 100 Meter Event of World Athletics Championships 2019, Scripts History by Winnings Four Championship Gold Medal. 

Rani finished on the third spot in group A round and finished a place above the current World Record holder Barbora Spotakova in the final list. The 27-year-old Indian athlete reached 57.05m and 62.43m in the first two attempts, and then 60.50m in the third and the final attempt. In group A round, she finished behind Liu Shiying (63.48m) of China and Ratej Martina (62.87m) of Slovenia.

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Meanwhile, Sprinter Archana Suseentran finished last at women’s 200m heats event with a timing of 23.65s. Anjali Devi missed a berth to the semi-finals in women's 400m event, after clocking a time of 52.77 minutes. Meanwhile, World Athletics Championships 2019 started on September 27, Friday and will finish on October 6 (Sunday).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2019 10:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).