Aarti, a 17-year-old Indian race walker, has made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10000m race walk event at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia. Her remarkable performance not only opened India’s medal account at the prestigious event but also set a new national U20 record.
Aarti’s triumph is a testament to her unwavering determination and exceptional talent. She clocked an impressive time of 44 minutes 39.39 seconds, finishing third in the grueling event. Her performance was particularly noteworthy as she broke her own previous national record of 47:21.04, which she had set in March while winning gold at the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow.
The race was dominated by Chinese race walkers, with Zhuoma Baima taking the gold medal with a time of 43:26.60 and Meiling Chen securing the silver with a time of 44:30.67. However, Aarti’s bronze medal performance is a significant achievement for India and a testament to her potential as a future star in the sport.
In addition to Aarti’s success, Pooja Singh also made a mark for India at the World U20 Athletics Championships. The 17-year-old high jumper from Haryana rewrote the national U20 women’s national record in high jump, clearing a height of 1.83m in the qualification round. Her performance earned her a ninth-place finish in the qualification round and a spot in the final, which will be held on Saturday.
Pooja’s achievement is particularly impressive considering her humble beginnings. The daughter of a mason, she has overcome adversity to become one of India’s most promising young athletes. Her national record-breaking performance is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
The performances of Aarti and Pooja at the World U20 Athletics Championships are a source of pride for India and a sign of the country’s growing strength in athletics. Their achievements inspire young athletes across the nation and demonstrate that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.
