India’s 4x400m mixed relay team pipped China to clinch the gold medal at the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China, on Thursday, July 9. The Indian quartet of Astik Pradhan, Sandra Mol Sabu, Sethu Mishra and Shravani Sachin Sangle clocked 3:18.64 seconds to take the top spot in the last event of the opening day of the Championships.
Shravani, who ran a brilliant anchor leg to pip China’s Yingying Huang by 0.10 seconds and clinch the gold medal in 3:18. The Philippines bagged bronze after clocking 3:25.28 seconds.
India have so far won eight medals, including one gold, one silver and six bronze medals.
India’s medal account was opened by Bhartpreet Singh, who bagged a bronze medal in the men’s discus throw with an effort of 52.91m. China’s Li Zhixin won the gold with a throw of 60.79m, while compatriot Jiang Zehao took the silver with 59.60m.
In the men’s 5000m race, two Indians won medals, with Shivaji Parashuram Madappagoudra settling for the silver in 14:08.19 and Vinod Singh claiming the bronze with a timing of 14:23.67. Japan’s Rui Suzuki won gold, clocking 14:01.24.
Prachi Devkar won the day’s last medal – a bronze – in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking 10:32.69 seconds. The first two spots were taken by Chinese athletes Yang Yiting, who won the gold medal with a timing of 10:14.68, while Liu Yuxin settled for the silver medal with a timing of 10:25.51.
India won three more bronze medals on Day 2
On the second day of the Championships, India added three more medals – all bronze – taking its medal tally to five.
In the men’s 800m, Shakeel won a bronze medal after clocking 1:48.78. Vinod Kumar B, the second Indian in the fray, finished fourth with a time of 1:49.10.
In the women’s 800m race, Bhumeshwory Devi Huidrom won the day’s second medal – a bronze – with a timing of 2:10.20. However, it was a disappointing day for Vaishnavi Rajendra Rawal as she finished fifth with a time of 2:10.83. Uzbekistan’s Jonbibi Hukmove clinched the gold medal after clocking 2:08.41, while Japan’s Kurumi Sugure took the silver in 2:09.42.
In the men’s 200m race, Abhay Singh won the bronze medal with a timing of 20.96 seconds. He finished behind China’s Youwen Huang, who won the gold medal with a timing of 20.43 seconds, while Japan’s Kota Uematsu (20.58 seconds) settled for the silver.
Among other Indians who put in notable performances but missed out on podium finishes were Sharuk Khan, who finished fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:14.14, and Abhijit Sanjay Bhosale, who finished fourth in the decathlon with an overall tally of 6610.
India are being represented by 53 athletes in the inaugural edition of the Championships.