India added another medal to its tally at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 as Shakeel secured the bronze medal in the men’s 800m in Ordos, China.
Shakeel produced a strong performance in the two-lap final, clocking 1:48.78 to finish third and earn a place on the podium. Running in a competitive field, the Indian middle-distance runner maintained his composure throughout the race before holding off the chasing pack to claim the bronze medal.
The gold medal was won by Qatar’s Hatim Aitoulghazi, who crossed the finish line in 1:47.05. Hussein Loraña of the Philippines claimed the silver medal with a personal best of 1:47.65, while Shakeel completed the podium with his time of 1:48.78.
India came close to securing a second medal in the event as Vinod Kumar also delivered an impressive performance, finishing fourth in 1:49.10. Although he narrowly missed out on a podium finish, his effort contributed to a strong overall showing by the Indian contingent in the men’s 800m.
The bronze medal continues India’s encouraging campaign at the inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships, with the country’s young athletes consistently challenging for podium finishes across both track and field events. Shakeel’s performance further highlights the strength of India’s emerging middle-distance runners at the continental level.
The Asian U23 Championships serve as a key platform for developing athletes to gain valuable international experience before progressing to senior competition. By securing a bronze medal against some of Asia’s finest U23 runners, Shakeel has added an important achievement to his career while contributing to India’s growing medal tally in Ordos.
With another podium finish secured, the Indian team will look to carry this momentum into the remaining events of the championships. Shakeel’s bronze medal, coupled with Vinod Kumar’s fourth-place finish, reflects the promising future of Indian middle-distance running and provides another positive result for the national contingent at the historic first edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
India’s Sandramol Sabu narrowly missed out on a place in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, following the conclusion of the qualifying heats in Ordos, China.
Competing in Heat 1, Sandramol clocked 55.00s to finish sixth, falling short of the qualification criteria for the championship final. Despite a determined effort, her time was not enough to secure one of the available qualification spots in a highly competitive field.
The qualification format saw the top three finishers from each heat (Q) automatically advance to the final, with the next two fastest athletes (q) across both heats completing the eight-athlete lineup. Sandramol was unable to finish within the automatic qualification positions or secure one of the two fastest non-automatic qualifying spots, bringing India’s campaign in the women’s 400m to an end.
The fastest performance of the qualifying round came from Naomi Johnson of the Philippines, who impressed with a time of 52.10s across the two heats. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Jithma Shenari Gamage claimed victory in Heat 2, clocking 53.94s to comfortably progress to the final.
Although Sandramol will not feature in the medal race, competing at the Asian U23 Championships provided another valuable opportunity to test herself against some of the continent’s leading young quarter-milers. The championships continue to serve as an important stepping stone for athletes aiming to transition successfully to the senior international level.
India will now turn its attention to the remaining track and field events, where several athletes remain in contention for medals. While the women’s 400m campaign concluded in the heats, the Indian contingent will be looking to build on its encouraging performances elsewhere at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships as the competition progresses in Ordos.
India will have two representatives in the men’s 400m final at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, with Setu Mishra and Astik Pradhan successfully progressing through the heats in Ordos, China.
Astik Pradhan delivered one of the standout performances of the qualifying round, producing a composed run to win Heat 2 in 46.51s. The Indian quarter-miler controlled the race well and finished strongly to secure automatic qualification for the final, reinforcing his credentials as one of the contenders for a podium finish.
In Heat 1, Setu Mishra also earned his place in the final after clocking 47.28s to finish fourth. His performance was sufficient to book a spot in the championship race, ensuring India will have a strong presence in the event with two athletes competing for medals.
The successful qualification of both runners is an encouraging result for the Indian contingent, reflecting the depth of the country’s emerging talent in the men’s 400m. The event has traditionally been one of India’s stronger disciplines, and the performances of Setu and Astik continue that trend at the continental U23 level.
Astik’s heat-winning run will provide him with confidence heading into the final, while Setu will look to build on his qualifying performance as both athletes prepare for the decisive race. With two Indians lining up in the final, the country will have multiple opportunities to challenge for a place on the podium.
The men’s 400m final is scheduled to be held tomorrow at 6:35 PM IST, where Setu Mishra and Astik Pradhan will take on Asia’s leading young quarter-milers in pursuit of championship honours.
With both athletes progressing successfully through the heats, India has strengthened its prospects in one of the premier track events at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships, and all eyes will now be on the final as the duo aims to convert qualification into medals.
India continued its medal-winning run at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 as Bhumeshwory Devi claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 800m in Ordos, China.
Representing India in one of the championships’ most competitive middle-distance events, the athlete from Manipur clocked 2:10.20s to finish third and secure a place on the podium. Bhumeshwory maintained a strong rhythm throughout the two-lap race and produced a determined finish to earn another medal for the Indian contingent.
The gold medal was won by Uzbekistan’s Jonbibi Hukmova, who crossed the finish line in 2:08.41s. Kurumi Sugure of Japan claimed the silver medal with a time of 2:09.42s, while Bhumeshwory completed the podium with her bronze-medal performance.
The result adds another significant achievement to Bhumeshwory’s steadily progressing career. She emerged as the 2025 Interstate champion in the women’s 800m and has continued to establish herself among India’s promising middle-distance runners.
Bhumeshwory currently trains at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), Bengaluru, under IndianOil’s Project Shakti, a programme she joined in 2024. The structured training environment has played an important role in her development, and her podium finish at the continental championships reflects the progress she has made over the past two seasons.
The Asian U23 Athletics Championships provide an important stepping stone for emerging athletes aiming to transition successfully to senior international competition. By securing a bronze medal, Bhumeshwory has not only added to India’s medal tally but has also gained valuable experience competing against some of Asia’s best young middle-distance runners.
With another podium finish in Ordos, India continued its encouraging campaign at the inaugural edition of the championships. Bhumeshwory Devi’s bronze medal in the women’s 800m stands as another rewarding achievement for Indian athletics and highlights the growing strength of the country’s emerging talent in middle-distance running.
India celebrated a landmark moment at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, as the Mixed 4x400m Relay team won the country’s first-ever gold medal at the competition with a thrilling victory over hosts China.
The Indian quartet of Astik Pradhan, Sandramol Sabu, Setu Mishra, and Shravani Sachin Sangle clocked 3:18.64 to finish atop the podium. China settled for silver in 3:18.74, while the Philippines claimed the bronze medal with 3:25.28.
Each member of the Indian team played a crucial role in the historic triumph, but it was anchor Shravani Sachin Sangle who produced the defining moment of the race. Displaying remarkable speed and composure, she overtook China’s Yingying Huang in the closing stages to secure a dramatic victory for India.
The gold medal marks India’s first title at the debut edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships and highlights the country’s growing strength in relay events. The memorable win adds another chapter to an impressive campaign for the young Indian contingent in Ordos.
India will have two representatives in the men’s 200m final at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships after Abhay Singh and Gokul Pandiyan successfully progressed through their respective heats in Ordos, China.
Abhay Singh produced an impressive run to finish second in Heat 2, clocking 21.11 seconds to qualify automatically for the final. Gokul Pandiyan also secured his place in the medal race, finishing third in Heat 1 with a time of 21.51 seconds.
China’s Youwen Huang emerged as the fastest qualifier after recording 20.84 seconds, while Japan’s Kota Uematsu posted the second-fastest time of 20.98 seconds. They were the only two athletes to break the 21-second barrier during the heats.
With two sprinters in the final, India will look to challenge for a podium finish when the men’s 200m final gets underway at 6:35 PM IST.
India added another medal to its tally at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 as Bhartpreet Singh claimed the bronze medal in the men’s discus throw in Ordos, China.
Bhartpreet produced a best effort of 52.91m, which came on his fifth attempt, to secure a place on the podium. After remaining in contention throughout the competition, the Indian thrower delivered his decisive throw at a crucial stage to finish third and earn another valuable medal for the Indian contingent.
The gold medal was won by China’s Zhixin Li, who dominated the event with a personal best throw of 60.79m. His compatriot Zehao Jiang claimed the silver medal with a best effort of 59.60m, giving the host nation a one-two finish in the competition.
Although Bhartpreet faced stiff competition from the Chinese throwers, he remained composed and capitalised on his fifth-round effort to secure the bronze medal. His performance ensured India continued its successful run at the championships, adding another podium finish to the country’s growing medal tally.
The Asian U23 Athletics Championships provide an important platform for emerging athletes to compete against the continent’s best and gain valuable international experience. Bhartpreet’s bronze-medal performance reflects the depth of India’s developing talent in the throwing events and highlights the country’s continued progress at the age-group level.
Winning a medal at the inaugural edition of the championships is a significant achievement for the young Indian thrower, who showcased resilience and consistency under pressure. His fifth-attempt throw proved decisive in securing a place on the podium and rewarding a composed performance throughout the competition.
With Bhartpreet Singh’s bronze medal, India continued its encouraging campaign in Ordos, building on earlier successes across track and field events. As the championships progress, the Indian contingent will aim to maintain this momentum and add more medals to its tally at the historic first edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
India continued its impressive start at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 with another podium finish, as Prachi Devkar secured the bronze medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase in Ordos, China.
Prachi produced a determined performance to finish third in 10:32.69, adding another medal to India’s tally at the continental championships. Competing against a strong field, the Indian athlete maintained a consistent pace throughout the race and held her position to earn a place on the podium.
The gold medal was claimed by China’s Yiting Yang, who crossed the finish line in 10:14.68 to secure the title. Her compatriot Yuxin Liu finished second in 10:25.51, completing a one-two finish for the host nation, while Prachi followed closely behind to claim the bronze.
The medal is another significant achievement for the Indian contingent at the debut edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships. It also reflects India’s growing strength in middle- and long-distance events at the age-group level, with young athletes continuing to make their presence felt on the continental stage.
Prachi’s composed performance under championship conditions ensured that India remained among the medal winners early in the competition. Successfully negotiating the barriers and water jumps while maintaining her rhythm, she produced a well-executed race to secure a deserved podium finish.
The Asian U23 Athletics Championships serve as an important platform for emerging athletes to gain valuable international experience before progressing to the senior level. By winning the bronze medal, Prachi has added a notable achievement to her career while contributing to India’s encouraging campaign in Ordos.
With another medal added to the tally, the Indian team will look to carry this momentum into the remaining events of the championships. Prachi Devkar’s bronze-medal performance in the women’s 3000m steeplechase stands as another memorable moment for India at the inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
India made a promising start at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 by winning two medals in the men’s 5000m, opening its medal account at the continental event in Ordos, China.
Leading the Indian challenge was Shivaji Parashuram, who produced a determined performance to claim the silver medal in a time of 14:08.19. Running confidently throughout the race, Shivaji stayed among the front-runners and finished strongly to secure India’s first medal of the championships.
Joining him on the podium was compatriot Vinod Singh, who earned the bronze medal after crossing the finish line in 14:23.67. His composed effort ensured a memorable double podium finish for India in the event, giving the country two medals in the opening stages of the competition.
The gold medal was won by Japan’s Rui Suzuki, who produced the fastest performance of the race, clocking 14:01.24 to take the title.
The silver and bronze medals hold added significance as they are India’s first-ever medals at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships, which is being held for the first time. The achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian athletics at the debut edition of the continental competition and provides an encouraging start to the campaign.
Distance running has consistently been one of India’s stronger disciplines at age-group competitions, and the performances of Shivaji Parashuram and Vinod Singh continued that tradition on the Asian stage. Their medals reflect the depth of India’s emerging talent and provide a positive foundation for the remainder of the championships.
With the medal account now open, the Indian contingent will look to build on this momentum in the events to come. The historic double podium finish in the men’s 5000m has given India an ideal start to the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships and will serve as a confidence boost for the rest of the team as they continue their quest for more medals in Ordos.
India’s challenge in the men’s 100m came to an end in the heats at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026, with both Vibhaskar Kumar and Sam Vasanth missing out on qualification for the final.
Vibhaskar Kumar produced the better of the two Indian performances, clocking 10.50s to finish fourth in Heat 1. Despite a competitive run, his time was not enough to secure a place among the eight finalists.
In Heat 3, Sam Vasanth crossed the finish line in 10.66s, finishing sixth in his race. Like Vibhaskar, he was unable to advance to the medal round as the competition featured a strong field of sprinters from across Asia.
With both athletes falling short of the required qualification standard for the final, India will not have a representative in the men’s 100m title race at the championships.
The fastest performance of the opening round came from Malaysia’s Md. Fahimi, who impressed by clocking 10.15s across the three heats. His run established him as the quickest qualifier heading into the final and underlined the high standard of competition in the event.
Although the result marks a disappointing outcome for the Indian contingent in the men’s 100m, both athletes gained valuable experience competing against some of Asia’s leading young sprinters on the continental stage. The Asian U23 Athletics Championships continue to serve as an important platform for emerging athletes to test themselves against top regional competition and build experience for future senior international events.
Attention will now shift to the remaining events, where the Indian contingent will look to secure strong performances and challenge for podium finishes. While the men’s 100m campaign has concluded in the heats, India will be aiming for better results in the championships’ upcoming competitions.
