Annu Rani
About
Annu Rani Dharayan has emerged as an impressive Indian javelin thrower and broke a 14-year-old national record at the 2014 National Inter-State Athletics Championship in Lucknow with a throw of 58.83 meters, earning her a gold medal and qualifying her for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she finished eighth.
Supported by the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), Annu's rise in athletics has been phenomenal. Her official entry into javelin throwing began in 2010 at the age of 18. Her hard work and determination quickly paid off when she continued to break her own records, improving her performance year after year.
In 2014, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with a throw of 59.53 meters. By 2016, she surpassed her previous record with a throw of 60.01 meters at the National Inter-State Athletics Championship.
Despite financial constraints and initial disapproval from her father, Annu began her training using unconventional methods, such as hurling sugarcane sticks in an empty field. Annu's first javelin was a makeshift stick crafted from bamboo, highlighting her resourcefulness and dedication.
Her career saw another milestone in March 2019 when she achieved a throw of 62.34 meters at the National Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala, Punjab. This performance was followed by a silver medal at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Qatar, which qualified her for the World Athletics Championship.
Annu became the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the women's javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, 2019. Her consistent performance earned her a bronze medal at the IAAF World Challenge event Golden Spike Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Annu's achievements continued to soar as she won the Sportstar Aces Sportswoman of the Year Award in Athletics in 2020. She clinched a gold medal at the 59th National Open Athletics Championship, further establishing her position as a leading athlete in her field.
Her career-best effort of 63.24 meters, achieved at the National Interstate Athletic Championship in Patiala in 2021, earned her a gold medal
Awards and Accomplishments
Awards and Accomplishments
Annu’s historic accomplishments include becoming the first Indian female javelin thrower to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, where she secured a bronze in Birmingham in 2022. In 2023, she made history again by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, becoming the first Indian javelin thrower to achieve this feat.
Why Annu Rani ?
Annu Rani Dharayan, India’s pioneering javelin thrower, has a compelling story of overcoming financial hardships and societal barriers to achieve international success. Her journey from crafting makeshift javelins to breaking national records and winning medals at prestigious events, make her an inspiring speaker who can motivate audiences to pursue their dreams despite challenges.
