On a riveting third day at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, India sprinted past expectations, leapfrogging back into second place on the medals tally, thanks to a flurry of golden performances that turned Gumi into a playground of Indian excellence.
AVINASH SABLE SCRIPTS HISTORY, AGAIN
Under the floodlights and amid roars of anticipation, Avinash Sable ignited India’s golden run. The steeplechase specialist stormed to gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking a season-best 8:20.92. This wasn’t just a victory – it was a legacy-affirming moment.
Sable, the national record holder and reigning Asian Games champion, ran with poise and power, leaving behind Japan’s Yutaro Niina (8:24.41) and Qatar’s Zakaria Elahlaami (8:27.12), who had to settle for silver and bronze.
In doing so, the Commonwealth Games medalist Sable became only the third Indian to win multiple medals in this event at the Asian Championships, and the first to win gold in 36 years, following in the golden strides of Harbeil Singh (1975) and Deena Ram (1989). From a bronze in 2019 to gold in 2025 – Sable’s journey is the stuff of distance-running folklore.
JYOTHI YARRAJI: QUEEN OF THE HURDLES
If Sable’s performance was commanding, Jyothi Yarraji’s win in the women’s 100m hurdles was sheer theatre. Trailing midway, she unleashed a blazing finish over the final four hurdles to snatch gold in 12.96s, breaking the Championship Record in style.
Her triumph marks the first sub-13 second run this season, and with it, she defended her 2023 title, becoming the only Indian woman with two medals in the 100m hurdles at this level.
For a discipline that once struggled for attention in Indian athletics, Jyothi has turned it into a crown jewel.
RELAY RAPTURE: WOMEN’S TEAM WINS GOLD
India’s women’s 4x400m relay team delivered yet another gem, clinching gold in 3:34.18s. The race unfolded with strategic brilliance, but it was Rupal’s fiery second leg and Subha Venkatesan’s clutch anchor that stole the show.
Subha, who’s fast becoming synonymous with nail-biting finishes, surged past Vietnam (3:34.77) and Sri Lanka (3:36.67) in the final strides. Calls to crown her as the “Anchor Leg GOAT” are not without merit.
MEN’S RELAY TEAM BATTLES TO SILVER
India’s men’s 4x400m relay team also brought home a silver medal, clocking 3:03.67s in a fiercely contested race. With Jay Kumar’s strong start, Dharamveer’s brave push, Manu’s consistency, and Vishal TK’s electrifying finish, India nearly overhauled Qatar’s gold-winning 3:03.52, while China settled for bronze at 3:03.73.
TWIN DELIGHT IN LONG JUMP
In the women’s long jump, it was a double celebration for India as Ancy Sojan (6.33m) and Shaili Singh (6.30m) soared to silver and bronze. Iran’s Reihaneh Mobini Arani pipped them to gold with 6.40m.
Shaili, who won silver in the previous edition with 6.54m, now leads the Asian charts in 2025 with a 6.64m jump, while Ancy ranks fourth.
India’s third day in Gumi wasn’t just a statistical surge – it was a statement. From the seasoned strides of Sable to the fearless fire of Jyothi, and the collective grit of the relay teams, Indian athletics is not just competing – it’s commanding.