Asian U-18 Athletics Championships 2023 Review: Promising results for India

The Indian contingent finished with an impressive haul of 24 medals.

The Indian youth contingent finished the Asian U-18 Athletics Championships 2023 on a great note by bagging 24 medals overall (across three days). Indian athletes bagged six golds, eleven silvers, and seven bronze medals and finished the U-18 Championships in the second spot behind China. India’s neighbouring country China, won the same number of medals as India(overall) but had a superior advantage of winning 15 gold medals. Kazakhstan stood third by winning 14 medals (three golds, six silvers and five bronze)

India started the competition by winning four medals, including a gold, on day one. Priyanshu and Rahul Sarnaliya won gold and silver medals respectively in the men’s 1500m section. Mubassina Mohammed was one of the experienced athletes to take part (second appearance) in the U-18 Championships. She won the bronze medal in long jump with an effort of 5.90m. The Lakshadweep athlete did not participate in the heptathlon event.

India’s performance at Asian U-18 Athletics Championships 2023

Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2023: Athletes who impressed the most

Rezoana Mallick

Rezoana Mallick finished her maiden International competition on a high by winning three medals (gold medals in 400m & team medley and silver in 200m). The 16-year-old athlete from West Bengal, won the girls 400m by clocking 52.98s and in the process, broke the U-18 400m national record, which was previously held by Keralite Jisna Mathew (53.14s). Rezoana Mallick was just 0.02 seconds (AFI qualification mark - 52.96 seconds) off the qualification mark for the Asian Games 2022.

Bapi Hansda

Bapi Hansda won the silver medal in the men's 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 51.38 seconds. The Odisha athlete recently won the gold medal at the 18th National Youth Championship clocking 51.90 secs enabling him to reach the top spot (WR 1) in the under-18 category and in the process also qualified for Asian Youth Athletics Championship.