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.