World Athletics U-20 Championships Day 4: India script history in racewalking

Priya Mohan missed out on a medal finish narrowly in women's 4x400m relay.

The World Athletics U-20 Championships experienced Indian racewalking touch yet another milestone on day 4. Amit Khatri won a historic silver medal with a timing of 42:19:94 in the men's 10000m final. On the other hand, Baljeet Kaur hir her personal best timing of 48:58:17 but could not clinch a medal as she finished at the seventh spot.

Amit Khatri has been one of the standout Indian athletes at the ongoing World Athletics U-20 Championships. He began the final race brightly, even leading at one point. However, Kenya's Heristone Wanyonyi surpassed the Indian in the final stages to clinch the gold medal.

Wanyoni's time of 42:10:84 helped him clinch the gold while Spaniard Paul McGrath took bronze. In the women's category at the World U-20 Athletics Championships, Baljeet faced a similar situation. She took an early lead but Kenya's Margret Gati soon caught up with her. As the race progressed, the high altitude began taking its toll on the race walkers.

Baljeet's positioning dropped from sixth to the 10th spot with 12 more laps to go. Mexican race walker Sofia Ramos Rodriguez was leading the fray at this point. The race finally concluded with Rodriguez clinching the gold while Maele Bire-Heslouis and Eliska Martinkova winning the silver and bronze medals respectively at the World U-20 Athletics Championshps.

Elsewhere, India faced an upset in the men's 4x400m relay. The team of Abdul Razak, Kapil, Sumit Chahal and Barath Sridhar finished at the bottom. India were in a strong group, having been paired up against Jamaica, Kenya, Brazil, Botswana and Romania in Heat 2 with the top two in the heats and the next two fastest set to qualify.

The odds were stacked against the Indian sprinters from the get go. As a result, the Indian sprinters were unable to advance to the next round. On a positive note, the women’s 4x400m relay team has already qualified and will directly be seen in action in the final.

In the hurdles, Rohan Gautam Kamble crashed out of the finals after finishing seventh in heat 2 as he clocked a timing of 52.88.

Meanwhile, in women's 4x400m relay, Priya Mohan hit her personal best 52:77 and finished at the fourth spot. She was among the eight finalists and one of India's favorites to win a medal. Nigeria’s Imaobong Nse Uko went on to win the gold, while the silver and bronze medals were roped in by Kornelia Lesiewicz of Poland and Sylvia Chelangat of Kenya respectively.

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