India Secures 24 Medals at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships
Strong Performance by Indian Athletes
On the final day of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships held in Gumi, South Korea, Indian athletes showcased remarkable performances, culminating in a total of 24 medals and securing the second position overall, just behind China.
The medal tally for India included eight gold, ten silver, and six bronze medals. China led the standings with 26 medals, comprising 15 gold, eight silver, and three bronze, as reported by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Japan followed closely in third place with 24 medals, four of which were gold.
Highlight of the Day: Men's Javelin Throw
The spotlight on the last day was on the men's javelin throw, where Sachin Yadav made his international debut. He achieved a personal and seasonal best throw of 85.16m, earning a silver medal, while Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem took gold with a throw of 86.40m.
Sachin Yadav Reflects on His Performance
Yadav expressed disappointment over missing the automatic qualification mark of 85.50m for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13 to 21. He viewed the Asian Championships as a valuable learning opportunity and plans to strategize for his next competition.
"I missed crucial training sessions due to ankle and shoulder issues, which affected my preparation. I aim to recover and secure my spot at the World Championships in my next event," Yadav stated, as quoted by the AFI.
He emphasized his focus on performance rather than the results of his competitors during his first international competition.
Additional Medals on the Final Day
The final day also featured Animesh Kujur, who excelled in the men's 200m sprint. Despite a false start by a Chinese athlete, Kujur maintained his composure and secured a bronze medal with a time of 20.32 seconds, breaking his previous national record of 20.40 seconds set earlier this year in Kochi.
"The start wasn't ideal, but my curve running helped me clinch a medal at the Asian Championships," Kujur remarked after the race.
The Indian women's 4x100m relay team, consisting of Srabani Nanda, SS Sneha, Abhinaya Rajarajan, and Nithya Gandhe, finished with a silver medal, clocking 43.86 seconds, while China won gold and Thailand took bronze.
Distance runner Parul Chaudhary added another silver to her collection, having previously won silver in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, and now securing silver in the 5000m. Middle-distance runner Pooja also contributed with a bronze in the 800m, having already won silver in the 1500m event.
Vithya Ramraj earned a bronze in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 56.46 seconds. However, Jyothi Yarraji and Nithya Gandhe did not manage to secure medals in the women's 200m.