U20 World Athletics C'ships: Pooja sets U20 National record in high jump

Indian high jumper Pooja set the new U20 national record in women's high jump while Jay Kumar finished sixth in the men's 400m final on the third day of the ongoing U20 World Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru.

The 17-year-old Indian jumper cleared 1.83m in the qualification round of the women's high jump to finish 9th overall and book a ticket in the final.

Pooja started with a height of 1.65m and cleared 1.65m and 1.69m with ease. However, she struggled at 1.73m and cleared it in her third attempt.

Again, she cleared 1.77m and 1.80m with ease but took three attempts to get past the 1.83m barrier setting the new U20 national record.

Later in the night, quarter-miler Jay Kumar ran another sub-47 race to clock 46.99s and finish sixth in the men's 400m final. He has been one of the few bright spots for the Indian contingent breaching his personal best twice in heats and semi-finals.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Unnathi Aiyappa finished 28th overall and fourth in her heat with a timing of 13.92s and failed to move forward to the semis.

Unnathi was in action again in the women's 200m and clocked 24.10s to finish 22nd overall while Neeru Pathak clocked 24.77s to finish 38th,

In the men's 110m hurdles, Nayan Pardip Sarde and Hariharan Kathiravan recorded timings of 14.60s and 15.34s to finish 60th and 66th overall.

Mohammed Atta Sajid finished 16th in the men's long jump qualification with the best jump of 7.39m and failed to move forward to the final.