From Neeraj Chopra to Hima Das: Indian athletes who shined at U20 World Athletics Championships

The U-20 World Athletics Championships, popularly known as the Junior Worlds, are back again. The event will make its mark on August 27, 2024, in Lima, Peru. This championship has long been a breeding ground for athletic talent around the world. India, in particular, has seen several of its track and field stars emerge from this event. Athletes like the golden boy Neeraj Chopra and sprinter Hima Das first made their mark on this stage before going on to become leading figures in Indian athletics.

The power-packed contingent of 43 athletes will be taking part in the event. To date, India has secured nine medals, including two golds, at the Junior Worlds. In the 2022 Championships held in Cali, Colombia, India won three medals. Here’s a look at the Indian athletes who have medalled in the history of the Junior Worlds:

India’s Bronze medallists in the U-20 World Athletics Championships

Rupal Chaudhary: Rupal Chaudhary won bronze in the women’s 400m event, days after securing silver in the mixed relay, making her the first Indian to win two medals in the same edition of the Junior Worlds.

Mixed 4x400m Relay: The quartet of Priya Mohan, Barath Sridhar, Summy, and Kapil secured a bronze medal in the 4x400m mixed relay with a time of 3:20.60 in the 2021 edition.

Navjeet Kaur Dhillon: Discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon claimed a bronze medal at the 2014 Championships in Oregon, USA, with a personal best throw of 56.36m. Dhillon also won bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

India’s Silver Medallists in the U-20 World Athletics Championships

Seema Punia: Seema was the first Indian athlete to earn a podium finish at the Junior Worlds. In the 2002 edition, she won a silver medal in the women’s discus throw with a best throw of 55.83m. Punia’s career later blossomed, earning her two Asian Games medals, four Commonwealth Games podium finishes, and recognition as a four-time Olympian.
Shaili Singh: Long jumper Shaili Singh, at just 17 years old, won a silver medal with a jump of 6.59m in the 2021 Junior Worlds. A protégé of legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George, Singh shows great promise for the future.
Amit Khatri: The youngster from Haryana won a silver medal in the 10,000m race walk event at the 2021 Championships, clocking a time of 42:17.94.
Mixed 4x400m Relay: In the 2022 edition in Cali, the same relay team, with Rupal replacing Summy, improved their performance to win silver, setting a new Asian record with a time of 3:17.76.
Selva Prabhu: Tamil Nadu’s youngster made history as the first Indian to win a medal in the triple jump at the Junior Worlds in 2023, taking silver with a personal best jump of 16.15m.

India’s Gold Medallists in the U-20 World Athletics Championships

Neeraj Chopra: Before becoming India’s first track-and-field Olympic gold medallist in Tokyo, Neeraj Chopra made history at the 2016 U-20 Championships in Poland by winning gold in the javelin throw with a distance of 86.48m. He was the first Indian to win a gold medal at the Junior Worlds.
Hima Das: In the 2018 edition of the games, 18-year-old sprinter Hima Das secured India’s second gold medal in the event’s history, winning the 400m final with a time of 51.46 seconds. Das continued her success, claiming two golds and a silver at the 2018 Asian Games.

Athletics Chak De India Neeraj Chopra