India’s sprinting prodigy Aarti Siwach delivered one of the most dominant performances of the National Junior Athletics Championships 2025, clinching double gold in the U-18 girls’ 100m and 200m both with personal best times and securing qualification for the World U20 Championships.
It was a week of records, resilience, and raw speed for the 17-year-old from Haryana, who reaffirmed her position as one of the brightest young talents in Indian sprinting. With two gold medals, two lifetime bests, and a world qualification, Aarti’s campaign was nothing short of exceptional. Aarti’s road to glory began with the U-18 girls’ 100m, where she displayed authority from the very first round. In the semifinals, she clocked a personal best of 11.90s, the fastest time across all heats, breaking the psychological 12-second barrier for the first time in her career.
That performance set the tone for the final, where she once again exploded out of the blocks and maintained her form through the line, clocking 11.95s to take gold. Aarti finished comfortably ahead of Shourya Ambure (12.16s) and Prisha Mishra (12.28s), becoming the only sprinter in the field to dip below 12 seconds.
Though she narrowly missed matching her semifinal time, her consistency across rounds stood out a hallmark of a maturing athlete who is learning to handle pressure across multiple races in a single day.
Dominance Continues in the 200m
Barely 24 hours later, Aarti returned to the track for the U-18 girls’ 200m final, and once again, she delivered a masterclass. Coming into the bend in second place, she powered through the final 50 metres with a perfectly timed surge to clinch gold in 24.25s shaving off 0.06 seconds from her previous best of 24.31s, which she had set at the Asian U18 Championships earlier this year.
The victory came despite a moment of concern midway through the race when fellow sprinter Bhoomika Nehat suffered a fall. Aarti maintained her rhythm, crossing the line ahead of Monika Raha (24.75s) and Rashi Singh (24.91s) to complete a stunning sprint double. With her 24.25s run, Aarti not only claimed her second gold but also breached the World U20 qualification mark, punching her ticket to next year’s global showpiece. It was a performance that underlined her growing confidence and capacity to deliver under pressure.
The Making of a Rising Star
Aarti’s breakout year began in April 2025, when she made her international debut at the U18 Asian Athletics Championships. Competing against the continent’s best, she won two bronze medals one each in the 100m (11.93s) and 200m (24.31s) both lifetime bests at the time. Those performances made her a name to watch in Indian athletics, but a brief training break and recovery period meant she hadn’t competed since. The National Junior Championships marked her return to competition and she made it count in the best way possible.
Her improvement curve since then has been steep. From a 12.10s sprinter in early 2024 to a consistent sub-12 performer this year, Aarti’s progress is the result of focused technical refinement particularly her drive-phase mechanics and top-end control.
A Journey Fueled by Grit and Consistency
Hailing from Haryana, Aarti’s story is one of steady rise through India’s junior athletics system. Balancing academics and training at a regional academy, she has steadily climbed the ranks since her sub-junior days. Known for her discipline and relentless focus, she has often credited her success to structured training and mental preparation. Her Asian U18 medals earlier this year gave her international exposure, but it was her comeback in Bhubaneswar that truly established her as the nation’s leading junior sprinter.
With her qualification now secured, Aarti’s focus will shift to preparing for the World U20 Championships, where she will compete against the best young athletes globally. Her times 11.90s in the 100m and 24.25s in the 200m already place her among Asia’s top U20 sprinters.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials have earmarked her as part of the next generation of elite female sprinters alongside Tanisha Naik and Nayana James, who have also broken through at the junior level this season. For Indian athletics, Aarti’s double triumph is another sign of the growing depth in sprinting an event area that has long craved consistency. For Aarti, however, it’s just the beginning.
Final Results U18 Girls 100m & 200m (National Junior Athletics Championships 2025)
100m Final
🥇 Aarti (Haryana) – 11.95s
🥈 Shourya Ambure – 12.16s
🥉 Prisha Mishra – 12.28s
200m Final
🥇 Aarti (Haryana) – 24.25s (PB, World U20 Qualifier)
🥈 Monika Raha – 24.75s
🥉 Rashi Singh – 24.91s
Two golds. Two personal bests. One World Championship berth.
Aarti Siwach’s sensational show in Bhubaneswar signals the arrival of India’s next sprint sensation.
