Shaili Singh finished third with a creditable effort of 6.65m in the women's long jump at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Yokohama on Sunday.
Shaili Singh's progress as an athlete has a lot to do with her coach Robert Bobby George but it was her "strong and determined" mother, who helped her daughter take first big leap when she sent her to Bengaluru for training, much against the 'advice' of well-wishers.
The Indian contingent won as many as six gold medals, including double podium finishes in the women's 800m final and long jump competition, on the second and final day of Taiwan Open International athletics championship.
Gold rush: Yarraji, Sable, women's 4x400m relay finish on top to extend India's Asian C'ship dominance
In other results, Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi ran a personal best of 45.57s in the men's 400m but that could only fetch him a fourth-place finish.
National record holder in women's javelin throw, Annu Rani would consider herself to be lucky to make it to the squad as she has been struggling for some time to reach the 60m mark.
Athletics Federation of India vice-president Anju Bobby George believes that while the spotlight will undoubtedly be on javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra to defend his Olympic title,
Shaili Singh, 19, jumped 6.76m -- the second longest distance by an Indian woman in April, behind Anju Bobby George's record mark of 6.83m, which has stood for 19 years.
Ace shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji rewrote their national records, while long distance sensation Harmilan Bains sizzled on the track.
Santhosh Kumar Tamilarnsan, Sarvesh Anil Kushare crash out in 400m hurdles and high jump
In the men's 20km race walk, Vikash Singh finished 28th in a time of 1 hour 21 minute 58 seconds, while Paramjit Singh (1:24:02) and Akashdeep Singh (1:31:12) were 35th and 47th respectively in the event in which 50 athletes competed.
Neeraj Chopra will once again headline India's campaign in the World Athletics Championships
Yarraji clocked 13.05 seconds -- well below her national record of 12.78s -- to finish seventh in heats
Parul Chaudhary won her maiden 3000m steeplechase title in a major international event to swell India's gold tally to five
Tejaswin will however focus on Asian Games 2023, which will be held from Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.
India's Parul Chaudhary and Priti secured silver and bronze medals respectively in the women's 3000m steeplechase, unheralded Ancy Sojan made a grand entry on the big stage.
Shot putter Karanveer Singh will be pulled out of the Indian team for the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok starting next week.
India's schedule at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Monday, October 2.
Neeraj Chopra will be the cynosure of all eyes as India begins its athletics campaign in the Asian Games
Build-up hit by pull-outs and dope flunks, India still hopeful of good show in Asian Athletics Championships from Wednesday
Parul Chaudhary became only the second Indian female athlete to qualify for the final of a track event at the World Athletics Championships.
A World Championships gold is the only medal missing in Neeraj Chopra's decorated cabinet and the superstar Indian javelin thrower will fancy his chances.
Long jumper Shaili Singh lived up to the expectations as she made it to the finals after topping the qualification round with an effort of 6.40m in the Under-20 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi on Friday.
The Jhansi-born athlete, who was raised by a single mother -- a tailor by profession -- currently trains at the academy of Anju Bobby George in Bengaluru. She is coached by Anju's husband Bobby George.
Shaili Singh announced her arrival on the big stage by winning a silver in the Under-20 World Athletics Championships, missing out on a historic gold by a mere 1 cm with a 6.59m effort, in the long jump final in Nairobi on Sunday.
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