India’s campaign at the U20 World Athletics Championships finally saw success as Aarti secured a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m race walk on Friday. This victory marked India’s first medal in the ongoing championships and also saw Aarti setting a new U20 National Record with a remarkable timing of 44 minutes and 39.39 seconds.
Aarti’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as she managed to shave off nearly three minutes from her previous personal best of 47:21.04, which she had set in March while winning gold at the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow.
Dominant Chinese performance
The race was dominated by Chinese athletes, with Zhuoma Baima clinching the gold with a timing of 43:26.60 and Meiling Chen taking the silver, clocking in at 44:30.67. Aarti’s bronze was a hard-fought achievement in a highly competitive field, showcasing her determination and progress in the event.
Indian Quartet shatters National U20 Record
In addition to Aarti’s success, the Indian team saw another record-breaking performance in the men’s 4x400m relay. The quartet, consisting of Rihan Chaudhary, Ankul, Abiram Pramod, and Jay Kumar, shattered the national U20 record with a time of 3 minutes and 08.10 seconds.
Their outstanding effort secured them second place in their heat and a spot in the final round, with Jay Kumar delivering a particularly impressive anchor leg to propel India forward.
Women’s Relay Team falls short
Meanwhile, in the women’s 4x100m relay heats, the Indian team of Rujula Amol Bhonsle, Neole Anna Cornelio, Abinaya Rajarajan, and Sudheeksha Vadluri also set a new national U20 record, clocking in at 45.31 seconds. Despite this commendable effort, they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final, finishing ninth overall.
High Hopes for Final Events
While India’s overall performance at the championships has been mixed, the recent successes have brought a renewed sense of optimism. With standout performances like 17-year-old Pooja’s U20 national record in the women’s high jump and Sharuk Khan’s record-breaking run in the 3000m steeplechase, the Indian team is hopeful of matching or even surpassing the three medals won at the previous edition of the U20 World Championships as they head into the final events.
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