The 26th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, witnessed a spectacular performance by the Indian contingent on Thursday, May 29, 2025. India's athletes shone brightly, securing a total of six medals, including three golds, two silvers, and a bronze, significantly boosting India's position in the medal tally. The gold rush was spearheaded by Avinash Sable in the men's 3000m steeplechase, Jyothi Yarraji in the women's 100m hurdles, and the women's 4x400m relay team.
Avinash Sable, the 30-year-old Olympian and reigning Asian Games champion, showcased his dominance in the men's 3000m steeplechase. He clocked a season-best time of 8:20.92 to clinch the gold medal, leaving behind Japan's Yutaro Niinae (8:24.41) and Qatar's Zakaria Elahlaami (8:27.12). Sable's victory marked a historic moment as he became the first Indian man in 36 years to win a gold medal in this event at the Asian Championships. The last Indian to achieve this feat was Deena Ram in 1989. This win underscored Sable's preparations for the upcoming Tokyo World Athletics Championships. Sable expressed confidence in his victory, stating he felt he was the best in the field.
Jyothi Yarraji continued India's golden streak by successfully defending her title in the women's 100m hurdles. She set a new championship record with a time of 12.96 seconds, also her season's best. Yarraji's performance was particularly impressive as she recovered from a slow start to surge ahead in the final hurdles, edging out Japan's Yumi Tanaka and China's Wu Yanni, who both clocked 13.07 seconds. With this win, Yarraji joined an elite list of athletes who have defended their gold medal in the Asian Championships 100m hurdles. This victory is a significant morale boost for Yarraji, especially after a challenging period with injuries, as she looks ahead to the World Championships.
The Indian women's 4x400m relay team, comprising Jisna Mathew, Rupal Chaudhary, Kunja Rajitha, and Subha Venkatesan, secured the third gold medal of the day. The quartet finished with a season-best time of 3:34.18, marking India's first gold in this event since 2013. Vietnam secured the silver medal with a time of 3:34.77, while Sri Lanka claimed the bronze with 3:36.67. Subha Venkatesan, known for her strong finishes, anchored the team to victory.
While the women's relay team celebrated gold, the Indian men's 4x400m relay team, consisting of Jay Kumar, Dharmveer Choudhary, Manu Thekkinalil Saji, and Vishal TK, secured a silver medal with a time of 3:03.67. Qatar won the gold with 3:03.52, and China took the bronze with 3:03.73.
In other events, Ancy Sojan won a silver medal in the women's long jump with a best leap of 6.33m, and Shaili Singh secured a bronze medal with a jump of 6.30m. Reihaneh Mobini Arani of Iran won the gold medal with a jump of 6.40m.
With these performances, India moved back to second place in the medal tally, boasting a total of 14 medals, including five gold, six silver, and three bronze. China currently leads the standings with 21 medals, including 12 golds. The Asian Athletics Championships 2025 continue to be a testament to the growing strength and depth of Indian athletics on the continental stage.
