National Games 2023: Dhaval Utekar clinches gold in 400m hurdles, expects national camp call-up

He is currently employed with Indian Air Force.

Gujarat’s promising 400m hurdler, Dhaval Utekar, arrived in Goa for the National Games 2023 with a singular objective: to finish ahead of his competition in the 400m hurdles and conclude the domestic season on a high note.

“It was a do-or-die situation for me. It was my last domestic race to showcase my potential. I was determined to win gold here in Goa,” said the 23-year-old from Vadodara after securing the National Games men’s 400m title.

“I couldn’t qualify for either the Asian Athletics Championships or the Hangzhou Asian Games, which was mentally challenging,” Utekar explained, highlighting the reasons for his determination.

In the 400m hurdle finals at the Bambolim Athletics stadium, he faced a strong challenge from Nikhil Bhardwaj of Services in the home stretch but managed to cross the finish line ahead of his competitors. He clinched the gold medal with a time of 51.20 seconds, while Bhardwaj secured silver with a time of 51.50 seconds. Vijay Singh Malik (Services) finished third, clocking 51.67 seconds.

“The 400m hurdles title in the season-ending competition will boost my confidence,” he added. Utekar now aims to secure a spot in the national camp since he was unable to practice independently for the past two years.

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Seven summers ago, Utekar was one of the teenagers scouted during talent searches in Gujarat. Joining the Indian Air Force in 2020 further provided him with the opportunity to pursue sports.

He made significant progress in the 2021-2022 season but faced challenges in the 2023 season. His personal best time of 50.55 seconds was achieved last year in a domestic competition. Based at the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station near Delhi, the National Games champion mentioned that he has limited resources at his disposal, making it challenging to make substantial progress.

“It is difficult to achieve both macro and micro goals set for the month or week when facilities are limited,” he explained. Utekar hopes that the National Games will open up new opportunities for him to further develop his skills.