Uttar Pradesh?s Sarita smashed the national record in women?s hammer throw by registering 65.25 metre. She was in a league of her own on the first day of the Federation Cup in Patiala. In the second round, she bettered the three-year-old national mark of 62.74m set by Manju Bala with a throw of 63.58m. In her fifth attempt, she hurled the hammer 65.25m.

The 27-year-old, who trains with Subhdeep Singh Mann here, had achieved her previous best of 61.81 in the previous edition in New Delhi last year. What was commendable about Sarita?s performance on Thursday is the fact that she improved her personal best by nearly three- and-a-half metres.