India’s athletics contingent began its Asian Youth Games 2025 journey in style on the opening morning session in Bahrain, led by a brilliant silver medal performance from Ranjana Yadav in the Girls’ 5000m Race Walk.
The session also witnessed solid qualification runs from Shourya Ambure in the 100m hurdles and Divyansh Raj in the boys’ 100m heats, setting a strong tone for the Indian camp on Day 1. The first medal of the Games for India came through Ranjana Yadav, who displayed remarkable endurance and consistency to clinch the silver medal in the Girls’ 5000m Race Walk, clocking 24:25.88.
The 17-year-old from Haryana paced her race to perfection, staying with the leading group through the early stages before breaking away in the final kilometre to secure second place. Her technique remained composed throughout, and despite the Bahraini heat and a challenging field, she maintained rhythm and posture — hallmarks of a mature performance for such a young athlete.
Ranjana’s silver marked India’s first medal in athletics at the Games and continued the country’s growing legacy in youth race walking, a discipline that has produced consistent results at continental events. Her compatriot Riya Rathore also produced a commendable effort, finishing fourth with a timing of 25:26.93, narrowly missing out on a podium finish. Though she fell short of a medal, Riya’s strong start and fighting finish were indicative of India’s depth in this endurance event.
With Yadav’s silver and Rathore’s fourth-place finish, India secured valuable early momentum a morale boost for the track and field squad ahead of a busy schedule over the next two days.
Shourya Ambure Advances to Semifinals in Women’s 100m Hurdles
In the Women’s 100m hurdles heats, Shourya Ambure showed confidence and control to clock 14.00 seconds, finishing second in her heat and comfortably qualifying for the semifinals. Her start was sharp, clearing the first hurdle cleanly and maintaining excellent stride rhythm through the mid-section. Ambure’s transition speed between hurdles a key factor in this technical event was one of the most impressive among the participants.
Her semifinal qualification now sets her up for a strong medal push in the evening session, where she will look to refine her start and maintain composure under pressure. Ambure’s progress continues India’s recent upward trajectory in women’s sprint hurdles, an event where young Indian athletes have been steadily improving at the continental junior level.
In the boys’ 100m heats, Divyansh Raj kept India’s sprint hopes alive by qualifying for the semifinals with a timing of 11.01 seconds, placing 9th overall across heats. Divyansh’s acceleration out of the blocks was quick, and though he appeared to lose some pace in the final 20 metres, his consistency was enough to secure a semifinal berth. His compatriot Nikhil Kamal, however, was unable to advance, finishing 15th overall with a timing of 11.16 seconds. Despite a clean run, Kamal’s start cost him crucial milliseconds in a tightly contested field, where fractions made all the difference.
The semifinals promise to be highly competitive, but Divyansh’s current form and composure suggest he could challenge for a top-five finish if he manages a faster start and stronger mid-race drive.
A Promising Start for India’s Athletics Contingent
The opening morning session provided a mix of excitement and optimism for Team India. With one silver medal already secured and multiple athletes progressing to the semifinals, India’s athletics contingent has begun its campaign on the right note.
India’s overall medal tally from the morning stands at:
- Ranjana Yadav – Silver (Girls’ 5000m Race Walk)
- Riya Rathore – Fourth (Girls’ 5000m Race Walk)
- Shourya Ambure – Qualified for 100m Hurdles Semifinals
- Divyansh Raj – Qualified for 100m Semifinals
- Nikhil Kamal – Did Not Qualify
With promising performances in both track and field events, India’s young athletes have shown maturity beyond their years, displaying not just talent but also discipline qualities that bode well for the days ahead. As the Games continue, all eyes will be on Ambure and Divyansh in their semifinal runs, while Ranjana’s silver will serve as a motivational anchor for the rest of the Indian squad looking to climb the Asian podium.
