Nipam Shines with Bronze at U20 Asian Athletics Championships

Nipam made a stunning debut at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, winning a bronze medal in the 100m event. Despite a slow start, she clocked 11.62 seconds, showcasing her potential as a national record holder. The competition also saw impressive performances from other Indian athletes, including Vikas Kumar in the 3,000m and Rahul Jakhar in the decathlon. With the championships concluding on May 31, Nipam is optimistic about further success in the relay events. Read on for more highlights from this exciting athletic meet.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 23:31 IST

Nipam's Impressive Debut

Sprinter Nipam made a remarkable entrance at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships held in Hong Kong, clinching the bronze medal in the 100m event on the first day of competition. The 18-year-old, who holds the national record for the U20 women's 100m, initially struggled at the start but quickly regained her pace, finishing with a time of 11.62 seconds. Her personal best, which is also a national U20 record, stands at 11.53 seconds, achieved during a domestic event in April.

Nipam's Excitement and Future Prospects

"Winning a bronze medal for my team is exhilarating," expressed a thrilled Nipam. She is also part of the national 4x100m relay team and is optimistic about securing another medal during the four-day event.

Medal Winners

The gold medal was claimed by Qatar's Dana Noor Salem, a 16-year-old who finished with a time of 11.47 seconds. China's Xinxuan Chen, also 16, secured the silver medal with a time of 11.54 seconds.

Other Notable Performances

In the men's 3,000m race, India's Vikas Kumar narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth with a personal best time of 8:24.88.

In the women's 400m heats, Neeru Pathak emerged victorious in her heat, clocking 54.42 seconds, while Tahura Khatun followed closely behind with a time of 55.06 seconds, both advancing to the finals.

Unfortunately, Mohammed Ashfaq from Kerala did not have a successful outing, finishing fifth in the men's 400m semifinals with a time of 47.06 seconds, thus failing to qualify for the final.

In the men's hammer throw, Ashuvendra Pratap Singh and Aman finished seventh and eighth, respectively, with throws of 64.34m and 63.40m.

Decathlon Hopes

India's prospects in the decathlon look promising, with Rahul Jakhar showing strong performance on the first day of this challenging ten-event competition. He recorded a time of 10.70 seconds in the 100m, earning 929 points, and achieved a long jump of 6.77m for 760 points. His shot put throw of 13.04m garnered him 670 points, while he added 740 points with a high jump of 1.93m. In the final event of the day, the 400m, he clocked 50.25 seconds, earning 803 points.

Championship Conclusion

The 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships will wrap up on May 31.