Indian Race Walker Aarti Wins Bronze at World U20 Athletics Championships

Indian Race Walker Aarti Wins Bronze at World U20 Athletics Championships

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.

Indian Race Walker Bhawna Jat Banned for 16 Months for Whereabouts Failures

Indian Race Walker Bhawna Jat Banned for 16 Months for Whereabouts Failures

Indian race walker Bhawna Jat has been handed a 16-month ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for whereabouts failures. The ban, which commenced on August 10, 2023, will end on December 10, 2024.

Bhawna’s suspension stems from her failure to provide accurate whereabouts information and missed doping tests. Under NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP) program, athletes are required to submit their whereabouts quarterly and provide a 60-minute time slot for testing.

Bhawna failed to appear for two doping tests in May and June 2023 and was also reported for one filing failure in the last quarter of 2022. She attributed the filing failure to technical issues with the mobile application and losing her phone.

The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) made the decision to suspend Bhawna under Article 2.4 of the NADA Rules on July 10, 2024. The suspension prevented her from competing at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.

Bhawna, 28, is a former national record holder in the women’s 20km race walk and competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Her suspension is a significant setback for her career and highlights the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations.

Indian Race Walkers Disappoint at Tokyo Olympics

Indian Race Walkers Disappoint at Tokyo Olympics

India’s race walkers endured a disappointing outing at the Tokyo Olympics, with Vikash Singh and Paramjeet Singh finishing well down the field in the men’s 20km event. Vikash Singh crossed the line in 30th place with a time of 1 hour 22 minutes and 36 seconds, while Paramjeet Singh finished 37th in 1:23:48.

The race was won by Ecuador’s Brian Daniel Pintado in 1:18:55, with Brazil’s Caio Bonfim and reigning world champion Alvaro Martin of Spain taking the silver and bronze medals respectively. Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Massimo Stano of Italy finished fourth.

The Indian contingent’s performance was particularly disappointing given that national record-holder Akshdeep Singh was forced to withdraw after the 6km mark. Singh had been expected to challenge for a top-10 finish, but his withdrawal left India with only two representatives in the race.

The best performance by an Indian in the Olympics in the 20km race walk remains KT Irfan’s 10th-place finish in the 2012 London Games, where he clocked a time of 1:20:21.

Later in the day, Priyanka Goswami will compete in the women’s 20km race walk event, where she will be hoping to improve on India’s disappointing performance in the men’s event.

Indian Race Walkers Secure Paris Olympics Berth in Mixed Relay

Indian Race Walkers Secure Paris Olympics Berth in Mixed Relay

Priyanka Goswami and Akshdeep Singh, India’s national record holders in women’s and men’s 20km race walk, respectively, have secured an Olympic berth for India in the newly introduced marathon race walk mixed relay. The duo finished 18th at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya, Turkey, on Sunday, earning one of the 22 Paris Olympics spots available.

The mixed event, which will make its Olympic debut this summer, involves male and female walkers alternating in distances of 12.195km, 10km, 10km, and 10km. Priyanka and Akshdeep clocked 3:05:03, placing them among the top 22 teams.

“It was a good performance considering we were doing this for the first time,” said Priyanka. “We have a greater chance in this relay event at the Olympics to aim for a higher finish.”

Akshdeep, who set a new national record in January, and Priyanka, a 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, held their own in a world-class field. They were placed 20th around the halfway mark before moving up to 18th and remaining there at the finish.

Both Indians found the stop-start format of the race challenging. “It’s a new event for us,” said Akshdeep. “After my first leg, I had a 45-minute break where my body had cooled down quite a bit. Now that we have experienced this, we can train accordingly and do even better at the Olympics.”

In addition to the mixed relay qualification, Priyanka and Akshdeep have also made the cut for the individual 20km event in Paris. Servin Sebastian produced the best finish by an Indian in the individual 20km races, placing 20th with a time of 1:21:39.

Ram Baboo Qualifies for Paris Olympics, Inspiring Underprivileged Athletes

Ram Baboo Qualifies for Paris Olympics, Inspiring Underprivileged Athletes

Ram Baboo’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to Olympic qualification is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. The 25-year-old race walker has etched his name in Indian sporting history by becoming the seventh Indian male walker to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Baboo’s rise to prominence has been meteoric. After transitioning from marathon to race walking six years ago, he quickly mastered the intricate technique, showcasing his natural aptitude for the sport. His bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in the 35km race walk further solidified his credentials.

In Slovakia, Baboo faced challenging conditions, including cold temperatures and wet surfaces. Despite these obstacles, he displayed remarkable resilience and determination, clocking a personal best time of 1:20:00 and securing a podium finish. This achievement not only earned him a spot in the Paris Olympics but also boosted his confidence ahead of the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya.

Baboo’s success is not merely a reflection of his athletic prowess but also a testament to his unwavering spirit. Growing up in a financially disadvantaged family, he witnessed firsthand the struggles his father faced as a laborer. Determined to break the cycle of poverty, Baboo embraced sports as a path to a better future.

With his Olympic qualification, Baboo has not only achieved his personal dreams but also inspired countless others from underprivileged backgrounds. His story serves as a reminder that with hard work, dedication, and a belief in oneself, anything is possible.

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