Imagine crossing the finish line after beating your biggest rival — only to turn around and hug her.

Now imagine that rival is your twin sister.

That was the beautiful moment in Eugene as Mia and Mariah Maxwell once again found themselves standing together on the podium.

The sisters went one-two in the women’s 200m, with Mia taking gold in 22.49 seconds and Mariah claiming silver in 22.86.

But the numbers only tell half the story.

The real story came moments later.

Mia turned towards Mariah and wrapped her arms around her sister.

Because for all the competition, all the pressure and all the chasing each other down the straight, this was still a shared dream.

And remarkably, it wasn’t the first time they had done it at these championships.

The Maxwell sisters had already gone one-two in the 100m, with Mia taking gold in 11.08 seconds and Mariah silver in 11.33.

Then they did it again over 200m.

Two races. Two one-two finishes. Four medals between them.

Mia’s 22.49 was a personal best, adding another milestone to a championship that has firmly put both sisters in the spotlight.

Yet perhaps the most memorable image wasn’t Mia crossing the line first.

It was what happened after.

The two athletes who spend their lives pushing each other to run faster were suddenly no longer rivals.

Just sisters.

The kind who know exactly how hard the other has worked. The kind who understand the sacrifices behind the stopwatch. The kind who can compete fiercely in one moment and celebrate each other completely in the next.

On the track, they chase each other.

Off it, they lift each other.

And in Eugene, the Maxwell sisters reminded everyone that sometimes the most beautiful victory isn’t winning alone.

It’s having someone beside you who understands exactly what it took to get there.

India’s Anshu narrowly missed out on a place in the women’s shot put final at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, with her campaign ending in the qualification round.

Competing against a strong field of the world’s leading junior throwers, Anshu finished ninth in her qualification group and 14th overall, falling just short of the positions required to advance to the medal round.

The qualification format allowed athletes to progress either by achieving the automatic qualifying mark or by finishing among the top 12 performers across both qualification groups. In total, four athletes managed to surpass the automatic qualification standard, while the remaining finalists advanced based on their overall rankings.

Despite a determined effort, Anshu’s performance was not enough to secure one of the available places in the final, bringing India’s campaign in the women’s shot put to a close.

The qualification competition was topped by Nigeria’s Jessica Oji, who produced a personal best of 17.56m to finish first overall. Her outstanding performance also established a new Nigerian U20 Record (NU20R), making her the leading qualifier heading into the final.

Although Anshu was unable to progress, competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships provided the young Indian thrower with valuable experience against elite international opposition. The event featured many of the world’s best junior shot put athletes, offering an important opportunity to compete at the highest level in her age category.

While the result was disappointing, participation at a global championship is a significant milestone in an athlete’s development. The experience gained from competing on the world stage will serve as a valuable foundation for Anshu as she continues her progression in the sport.

With the women’s shot put campaign ending in the qualification round, India’s focus now shifts to its remaining athletes who continue to compete across track and field events, as the national contingent looks to add more finalists and strong performances at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026.

India’s Tanu Chaudhary bowed out of the women’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, missing qualification for the semifinals after finishing fifth in her opening-round heat.

Competing against a strong field of international athletes, Tanu clocked 1:00.03s to finish fifth in her heat. The performance was not enough to secure progression, bringing her campaign at the global junior championships to an end.

The qualification format required the top four finishers in each heat (Q) to advance automatically, along with the three fastest athletes (q) across all five heats. Although Tanu fought hard throughout the race, her time did not place her among the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.

She finished 28th overall in the combined standings, narrowly missing the opportunity to progress to the next round in one of the championships’ most competitive track events.

The qualification rounds were led by UAE’s Mariam Kareem, who produced the fastest performance across all five heats, clocking an impressive 57.87s to head into the semifinals as the top qualifier.

For Tanu, competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships marks an important milestone in her development. Racing against some of the world’s best junior 400m hurdlers provides valuable international experience and an opportunity to compete at the highest level in her age group.

While the result was not the one she had hoped for, the experience gained in Eugene will be an important step in her progression as she continues her athletics career. Exposure to world-class competition is a crucial part of an athlete’s development and will help prepare her for future international championships.

With Tanu’s campaign concluding in the heats, India’s attention now turns to its remaining athletes still in contention across track and field events, as the national contingent continues its campaign at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026.

India’s Amit Kumar was unable to progress beyond the opening round of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, bringing his campaign to an end in the heats.

Competing against a strong international field, Amit finished last in his heat, clocking 54.01s. The performance was not enough to secure qualification for the semifinals, ending his challenge at the global junior championships.

The result was below the standard Amit had shown earlier in the season. He arrived in Eugene with a lifetime best of 51.19s, a mark that had earned him a place in the Indian team and highlighted his potential in the event. However, he was unable to reproduce that level of performance under championship conditions.

The men’s 400m hurdles is one of the most demanding events in athletics, requiring athletes to combine speed, endurance, rhythm, and precise hurdle technique over a full lap of the track. At the World U20 Championships, the competition featured some of the best junior hurdlers from around the world, leaving little margin for error in the qualification rounds.

Although the outcome was disappointing, competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships represents valuable international exposure for the young Indian hurdler. Racing against elite global competition provides important experience that can contribute to his development in future seasons.

Amit’s appearance at the championships reflects the progress he made during the domestic season, where his lifetime best of 51.19s established him as one of India’s leading U20 400m hurdlers. While he could not translate that form onto the world stage this time, the experience gained from competing at a major international championship will be an important step in his growth as an athlete.

With Amit’s campaign concluding in the heats, India’s focus now shifts to its remaining athletes who continue their quest for semifinal places, finals, and medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene.

India’s Mohammed Ashfaq shatters the Indian U20 national record in the men’s 400m and qualifying for the final of the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026.

The young Indian quarter-miler produced a sensational performance in the heats, finishing second in his race with a lifetime best of 45.81s, breaking his own previous Indian U20 record of 46.05s set earlier this season. The heat was won by USA’s Jayden DeLeon in 45.63s, with Ashfaq finishing just behind him in a world-class race.

His 45.81s not only secured a semifinal berth but also ranked him fourth overall among all semifinal qualifiers, putting him firmly among the leading contenders heading into the next round.

Back-to-Back Sub-PB Performances
Ashfaq returned for the semifinals and once again produced a time faster than the personal best he had brought into the championships. Running alongside Olympic champion Quincy Wilson of the United States, the Indian athlete clocked 46.00s, finishing third in his semifinal and ninth overall to secure a place in the world final.
Wilson dominated the race and recorded the fastest time across all semifinals with 45.02s, but Ashfaq showed tremendous composure under pressure to book his place in the championship decider.

Championship Progression
• PB before championships: 46.05s
• Heats: 45.81s (New Indian U20 National Record)
• Semifinal: 46.00s
Both races in Eugene were faster than the personal best Ashfaq carried into the championships, underlining the extraordinary form he has found on the global stage.

Men’s 400m Final Line-up – World Athletics U20 Championships 2026

Lane-wise line-up (Season Bests)
1. Zion Davis (BAH) – 45.64s
2. Mohammed Ashfaq (IND) – 45.81s
3. Godfred Opoku (GHA) – 45.38s
4. Malachi Austin (GUY) – 44.87s
5. Quincy Wilson (USA) – 44.84s
6. Leendert Koekemoer (RSA) – 44.94s
7. Jayden DeLeon (USA) – 44.52s
8. Kryn Romijn (NED) – 45.79s
9. Milann Klemenic (SLO) – 45.83s

Ashfaq will now line up against some of the world’s fastest junior quarter-milers, including Quincy Wilson, Jayden DeLeon, Leendert Koekemoer, and Malachi Austin, in what promises to be one of the strongest U20 400m finals in recent years.

India made a steady start to its campaign at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, with athletes competing across track and field events on the opening day in Eugene, USA. The day featured two finalists in the men’s javelin throw, a qualifier in the men’s 800m, and another finalist in the women’s discus throw.

The biggest highlight came in the men’s javelin throw, where Ashish Yadav and T. Dharanidharan both secured places in the final. Ashish impressed with a best throw of 69.87m, finishing second overall across both qualification groups. Dharanidharan also progressed after throwing 68.07m, claiming the 12th and final qualifying spot to ensure India will have two representatives in the medal round.

In the men’s 800m, India experienced mixed fortunes. Mogali Venkatram advanced to the semifinals after finishing third in his heat with a time of 1:52.81s, keeping India’s hopes alive in the event. However, Uwin Anand was unable to progress after placing seventh in Heat 1 in 1:52.37s, bringing his campaign to an end.

India also celebrated another qualification in the field events as Amanat Kamboj booked her place in the women’s discus throw final. She produced a season’s best of 52.58m, finishing sixth in Qualification Group A and 12th overall, which was enough to secure a spot in the medal contest.

The 4×400m mixed relay team narrowly missed out on a place in the final. The Indian quartet finished fourth in its heat, clocking 3:22.85s, but the performance was not enough to advance to the championship final.

With three individual finalists already confirmed—Ashish Yadav, T. Dharanidharan, and Amanat Kamboj—along with Mogali Venkatram’s progression to the men’s 800m semifinals, India has made a promising start to the championships and will look to build on that momentum in the days ahead.

India’s Mogali Venkatram booked his place in the men’s 800m semifinals at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 after producing a composed run in the opening round at Hayward Field, Eugene.

Venkatram finished third in his heat in 1:52.81, comfortably securing automatic qualification for the next stage in one of the championships’ most competitive middle-distance events.

The men’s 800m has attracted a strong international field, with 48 athletes entered from across the globe, making progression beyond the heats a significant achievement. The event has traditionally been dominated by African and European runners, and this year’s edition appears no different, with several athletes already producing world-class performances.

Leading the qualifiers was Uganda’s Shafeck Murungi who clocked a lifetime best of 1:46.64—the fastest time across all the heats and a mark that immediately established him as one of the favourites for the title. Several other contenders also dipped under the 1:48 barrier, underlining the depth of the field heading into the semifinals.

Venkatram, however, executed his race tactically, doing enough to secure one of the automatic qualifying positions without needing to chase a fast time. He will now aim to raise his performance another level in the semifinals, where the pace is expected to be considerably quicker as athletes battle for places in the final.

The qualification keeps India’s hopes alive in the men’s 800m, with Venkatram now just one race away from a place in the World U20 final.

India’s 4×400m mixed relay team missed out on a place in the final at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 after finishing fourth in its heat with a time of 3:22.85.

One pattern stood out during India’s race.
The quartet of Piyush Raj, Tahura Khatun, Syed Sabeer, and Thiya Arumugam appeared to go out very aggressively over the first half of their respective laps before fading significantly in the closing stages.

The World Athletics speed graphic highlighted this clearly. Around the 170–180m mark, Tahura’s speed peaked at approximately 7.9 m/s, while several athletes from other teams appeared to distribute their effort more evenly. In the closing metres, her speed dropped to around 6.6 m/s, one of the biggest declines in the field.

Managing pace over a one-lap relay is crucial, and a more controlled opening could help the Indian quartet finish stronger in future races.
With the men’s and women’s 4×400m relays still to come, India will hope to learn from this performance and deliver improved race execution.

With the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 set to take place in Eugene, Oregon (USA) from 5–9 August, India will field 36 athletes across sprints, middle-distance, jumps, throws and relays.

Based on the official season-best entry lists released by World Athletics, several Indian athletes head into the championships ranked among the leading contenders in their respective events, while others will look to make their mark on the global stage.

by Sundeep Misra

As the dust settled on Scotstoun Stadium at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, India’s track and field contingent left an indelible mark on international athletics. Accumulating an impressive 16 medals -comprising 3 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze – the nation confirmed its expanding footprint across multiple disciplines, cementing its reputation as an emerging powerhouse on the global stage. While the numbers alone tell a story of sheer volume, the deeper narrative of Glasgow 2026 belongs to a paradigm shift in depth, tactical maturity, and, above all, the arrival of Indian distance running as a force to be reckoned with worldwide.

For years, India’s track and field success was compartmentalized, often relying on isolated bursts of brilliance in specific field events or throws. Glasgow shattered that ceiling. Though the team’s able-bodied athletes experienced a competitive squeeze that left them searching for that elusive top step on the podium – finishing with 5 silver and 5 bronze medals alongside 3 golds from a stellar para-athletics squad – the qualitative leap in performance was staggering. Compared to Birmingham 2022’s eight medals, India doubled its overall haul, proving that its athletes are no longer just competing; they are consistently contending across a broader spectrum of global disciplines.

At the absolute heart of this transformation is Gulveer Singh, whose historic exploits have sent a resounding message across the international athletics community. Competing against elite world-class fields, the Army distance runner delivered what is arguably the most significant individual track performance in Indian history. In the men’s 10,000m final, Gulveer clocked a scintillating 27:49.78 to claim a historic silver, securing India’s first-ever CWG medal in the gruelling event. Not content with rewriting history once, he returned to the track for the men’s 5,000m final, executing a masterful tactical kick over the final 400m to secure bronze with a time of 13:24.95.

Gulveer’s double-medal breakthrough is more than just a personal triumph; it is a cultural and structural watershed. For too long, the global narrative has dismissed India’s capacity for elite endurance running on the world stage. By executing dual sub-28:00 (10,000m) and sub-13:30 (5,000m) efforts, Gulveer has forced the global running community to take notice. The world is finally watching India step out of its traditional comfort zones and stake a legitimate claim in distance running, signalling that the nation’s athletic ambitions extend far beyond the field and into the heart of the track.

Beyond the distance tracks, Glasgow showcased a masterclass in technical depth and multi-event versatility. India achieved rare double-podium finishes in premier field disciplines. In the men’s javelin throw, former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra demonstrated elite resilience under challenging, cold Scottish evening conditions to secure silver with an 85.83m throw, while teammate Yashvir Singh captured bronze with a personal-best 85.41m. Similarly, the men’s triple jump saw Praveen Chithravel (16.58m) and Selva Prabhu Thirumaran (16.52m) lock down silver and bronze in a commanding display of horizontal jumping pedigree.

This versatility was further underlined by Murali Sreeshankar, who backed up his previous successes with an 8.09m silver in the men’s long jump, and Sarvesh Anil Kushare, who cleared 2.25m on his first attempt to claim silver in the high jump. Meanwhile, Tejaswin Shankar etched his name in the record books by capturing India’s first-ever CWG decathlon medal with a phenomenal 7,976-point haul – highlighted by a 7.82m personal best in the long jump and a 2.15m clearance in the high jump. Complementing these exploits, Seema Kaliramna added a bronze in the women’s discus throw (58.65m), while India’s para-athletics contingent lit up the stadium with gold-medal blitzes from Dilip Mahadu Gavit (Men’s 100m T47), Soman Rana (men’s Shot put F57), and Sharmila Dhankar (women’s shot put F57).

Yet, as the delegation returns home, a clear strategic challenge remains: the gold conversion challenge. While the total medal count doubled, the absence of an able-bodied individual gold highlights the razor-thin margins separating global podium consistency from ultimate supremacy. In events like the javelin, where external weather conditions and peak-release mechanics dictate the final centimetre, and across tactical track races, coaches and athletes recognize that closing the gap to first place is the final frontier.

Glasgow 2026 will ultimately be remembered as the turning point where Indian athletics proved its systemic depth. By expanding into multi-events, dominating technical jumps, and – most importantly – shattering historical glass ceilings on the distance track through trailblazers like Gulveer Singh, India has signalled a definitive shift. The global athletics hub is no longer a closed circle. With the world now taking notice of India’s growing prominence, the roadmap toward the upcoming Asian and World Championships is crystal clear: take the silver-standard consistency, refine the tactical edges, and turn global respect into golden dominance.