Day 1 Wrap-up: Mixed Results for Indian Athletes in Athletics at the World University Games 2025
Athletics at World University Games 2025 got underway with Indian athletes stepping onto the track and field in Bochum, Germany, on the opening day. Competing across sprints, jumps, hurdles, throws and middle-distance events, the Indian contingent produced a mix of personal bests, promising qualifications, and a few near-misses.
Here’s a detailed look at how Team India fared, event by event:
➤ Men’s 400m Hurdles
The day began on a high for India as Ruchit Mori delivered an impressive performance in the men’s 400m hurdles heats. Running in Heat 3, Mori clocked a lifetime best of 50.58 seconds, finishing third and earning direct qualification (Q) to the semifinals.
His effort not only marked a personal milestone but also set a confident tone for India’s track athletes as the meet kicked off.
➤ Women’s Long Jump
In the field events, Ancy Sojan, one of India’s rising stars in jumps, secured her spot in the final. Ancy’s best effort of 6.20m placed her 10th overall among 45 competitors just enough to make the final cut.
However, it was disappointment for Moumita Mondal, who registered a best jump of 6.00m, finishing 20th and missing out on a finals berth. Despite the result, India will have Ancy carrying the flag in the final round.
➤ Men’s 400m
In the men’s 400m heats, Abhishek ran a time of 48.58 seconds, finishing fifth in his heat. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to progress to the semifinals. It was a tough field and Abhishek will take this experience forward to refine his race strategy.
➤ Men’s Discus Throw
The throws saw mixed outcomes for India. Abhimanyu managed to squeeze into the finals with a throw of 52.85m, ranking 12th overall. His final attempt proved decisive, just enough to stay within the qualifying positions.
His compatriot Alex, however, struggled to find rhythm, finishing 18th with a best of 47.14m, and missed the final round.
➤ Women’s 100m
In the women’s 100m heats, Abinaya Rajarajan impressed with her raw speed and composure. Clocking 11.88 seconds in Heat 5, she finished second and earned a place in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Angel Silvia ran in another heat but couldn’t replicate the result. Her time of 12.03 seconds placed her fifth in her heat, falling short of qualifying.
➤ Women’s Shot Put
The women’s shot put final saw both Indian entrants missing out on the top 12 cut. Shiksha finished 15th overall with a throw of 15.27m, while Poorna registered 14.54m, ending in 21st place. Despite not making the final, both athletes gained valuable exposure at this level.
➤ Men’s 100m
Closing the day’s events were the men’s 100m heats, where India fielded Gurindervir Singh and Manikanta.
Gurindervir clocked 11.00 seconds, finishing fourth in Heat 7. Manikanta, meanwhile, showed better form, running 10.74 seconds to secure second place in Heat 8. However, with limited qualifying spots and tight competition, neither athlete advanced to the semifinals.
Key Highlights from Day 1:
Ruchit Mori: Lifetime best (50.58s) & semifinal qualification in 400m hurdles
Ancy Sojan: Qualified for long jump final with 6.20m
Abinaya Rajarajan: Into 100m semifinals with 11.88s
Abhimanyu: Discus throw final spot with 52.85m
As the World University Games move forward, India’s focus will shift to semifinal rounds in track events and finals in field disciplines. Performances like Ruchit Mori’s and Ancy Sojan’s underline the depth and promise in Indian university athletics.
Stay tuned for more updates as Indian athletes look to turn qualifications into podium finishes at this global stage! 🇮🇳🔥
