Harita Bhadra is heading to the Asian Games with serious speed behind her. The 23-year-old Maharashtra sprinter produced a sensational 11.22-second run in the women’s 100m final at the Indian Athletics Series Final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

Running in lane six, Bhadra not only won the race but also became the second-fastest Indian woman ever in the event. Her time came remarkably close to Dutee Chand’s national record of 11.17 seconds, set in 2021. Bhadra missed the mark by just five hundredths of a second.

A Huge Leap in Speed

The performance marked a massive improvement for Bhadra. Her previous personal best stood at 11.46 seconds, recorded at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour meet in Bhubaneswar in August.

In Delhi, she sliced 0.24 seconds off that mark in one spectacular race. The final also saw several other Indian sprinters improve their personal bests. Tamil Nadu’s Abinaya Rajarajan clocked 11.31 seconds to finish second, while Giridharani Ravikumar took third in 11.35 seconds.

From Missed Selection to Asian Games Spot

Bhadra’s journey to the Asian Games has itself taken an unexpected turn. She was initially not included in India’s contingent for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, but was later added to the squad. She will compete in the women’s 200m at the continental event.

India will not have a representative in the women’s 100m at the Asian Games. Alongside Bhadra, Karnataka's Unnathi will compete in the 200m, while Abinaya and Sneha have been selected for the women’s 4x100m relay.

A Confidence Boost Before Japan

For Bhadra, the breakthrough run could not have come at a better time. She said that she was very happy with the timing and that she knew that she had it in her. She also believes that her improved speed can translate into the 200 m.

Now, with the Asian Games ahead, Bhadra has another race to look forward to—and she is heading to Japan with momentum, confidence and a new personal best.