Asian Youth Athletics 2022: India squad, players to watch out for

The biennial event will begin on October 13th and will run till October 16th.

The Asian Youth Athletics Championships is set to begin on October 13 in Kuwait. A 35-member squad will be representing the Indian Youth Athletics team (U-18). The event was first played in 2015 and since then has been held every two years except 2021 which was postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic.

This is will be the 4th edition with China leading the points table with 44 gold medals and 93 medals overall. India sits on the 2nd spot with 15 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze medals and a total of 54 medals. India has four Championship records with China holding the majority share with 22 records.

The 17th National Youth Athletics Championships was a qualifying event for the Asian Youth Athletics Championships.

Boys

Ashlin Alexander - 100m medley relay

Almas Kabir - 200m and 200m medley relay

Abiram P - 400m and 400m medley relay

Deepak Singh - 300m and 400m medley relay

Abhay Singh - Reserve for 300m and 400m medley relay

Bopanna Thelapa - 800m

Amit Chaudhry - 1500m

Jerome Sanjay Nishanth - 400m hurdles

Murad Sirman - 400m hurdles

Arjun - Javelin throw

Himanshu Mishra - Javelin throw

Kuldeep Kumar - Pole vault

Mohammad Atta Sazid - Long jump

Siddharth Choudhary - Shot put

Akash Yadav - Shot put

Mohammad Aman - Hammer throw

Atul - Discus throw

Servan K C - Discus throw

Girls

Sakshi Chavan - 100m medley relay

Ruthika Saravanan - 200m and 200m medley relay

Isha Jadhav - 300m/400m medley relay

Anushka Kumbah - 300m/400m medley relay

Roshani Yadav - Reserve for 300m/400m medley relay

Ashakiran Barla - 800m

Sunita Devi - 3000m run

Sabita Toppo - 100m hurdles and reserve for 100m medley relay

Ekta Dey - 2000m steeplechase

Sakshi Sargar - 2000m steeplechase

Mubssina Mohammed - Long jump and heptathlon

Nikita Kumari - Discus throw

Anisha - Discus throw

Deepika - Javelin throw

Vanshika Ghangas - Pole vault

Nitika Akare - Pole vault

Players to watch out for

1. Asha Kiran Barla (800 m)

Asha Kiran from Jharkhand has been in tremendous form in the junior circuit finishing as a semi-finalist at U20 World Championships in August. She clocked a time of 2.08.45 minutes in 800m, qualifying for the Asian Youth Athletics Championships. Asha Kiran clocked 2:06.86 at the U20 Worlds and is also the Asian Leader in the 800m event. She shall be the favourite to win the gold medal.

2. Deepika ( Javelin Throw)

The 16-year-old from Haryana has been in good form spearing the Javelin twice over 50m at the Khelo India Youth Games and the National Youth Championships. Deepika also won the gold at the Javelin Open on August 7 and won the sub-junior State Championships held in Haryana. She can claim the podium spot if she can produce the same performance.

3. Mubsinna Mohamm

Mubsinna Mohamm has qualified both in the Long Jump and heptathlon breaking the qualification marks at the National Youth Athletic Championships. She is also the first athlete from Lakshadweep to win gold in any age category at the National level. She has a PB of 5.90m in the Long Jump.

4. Vanshika Ganghas (Pole Vault)

Vanshika Ganghas broke the National record of Nivya Anthony set at a distance of 3.55m with the qualifying mark at 3.30m. She will face a stiff challenge from other Asian Nations but will be a good experience and exposure to compete.

5. Mohammed Atta Sazid

The 16-year-old from Uttar Pradesh won the gold medal clearing the qualification mark of 7.30m. He has breached the 7.30m mark thrice this season at the U20 National Championships, Youth Championships, and U20 Haryana Athletics Championships. If he can get close to the 7.40 - 7.45m mark he can take a podium spot.