Jamshedpur, Jan. 11: They have beaten their own records. Special athletes from the state have bagged as many as eight medals — three gold, two silver and three bronze — at the ongoing National Athletics Championship in Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh, nearly double of what they had won at the National Games in Delhi three years ago.

Bailey Bodhanwala, area director of Special Olympics (Jharkhand chapter), congratulated the winners. Jharkhand’s medal tally is expected to swell with three more days of the national meet left.

“It’s a good beginning. We are optimistic. Our athletes have so far claimed eight medals in the opening days of the championship,” said Satbir Singh, assistant area director (Jharkhand chapter).

City-based Alpana Kumari, the lone international in the state squad, kept her reputation intact by securing the 100m gold in the (16-21 age group) girls’ category. The School of Hope student is playing a stellar role in guiding her teammates in the medal rush.

Rahul Kumar of Madhur Muskan (Ranchi) finished first in the boys’ 50m (21-29 age group) while Ramai Gagrai from Parents’ Association of Mentally Handicapped, Jamshedpur, bagged the gold in boys’ 100m (16-21 age group).

Putal Das of Asha Kiran School claimed the 100m silver (16-21) in Eve’s section while Sudhir Dadel (Prakash Kunj, Ranchi) achieved a similar feat in the boys’ 100m.

Ashma, a student of Ranchi’s Deepshikha, bagged the 50m bronze (16-21) whereas Madhur Muskan’s Shanti Kumari slotted home the Eve’s 100m third slot in the same age group. Sumit Sinha of Jamshedpur’s Jeevika won the boys’ 400m bronze (16-21).

The national meet, which commenced on January 8, will conclude on January 14.