Annu Eyes Podium, Tejaswin Begins Decathlon, and India Looks to Set the Tone at Asian Athletics Championships 2025 day 1.
The 2025 Asian Athletics Championships kick off on May 27 in Gumi, South Korea, and Day 1 promises to be a crucial one for India. With multiple events featuring medal hopefuls, returning champions, and young debutants, Indian athletics fans can expect a day packed with action and potential storylines.
From the endurance of the 20km race walk to the technical mastery of the decathlon and explosive field events like triple jump and javelin, India’s presence across disciplines reflects growing depth and diversity.
Here’s a complete preview of Day 1 (all timings in IST):
4:30 AM – Men’s 20km Race Walk Final
The day begins with India’s Servin Sebastian and Amit in the men’s 20km race walk. While the event isn’t India’s strongest medal prospect, both athletes have had steady performances in the domestic circuit and will look to improve their international standings. With tough competition expected from China and Japan, finishing in the top six would be a credible result.
5:30 AM – Decathlon Begins: Tejaswin Shankar’s 10-Part Marathon
The versatile Tejaswin Shankar returns to the Asian stage, this time not as a high jumper but as India’s top decathlete. His day will involve five grueling events:
- 5:30 AM – 100m
- 6:15 AM – Long Jump
- 8:05 AM – Shot Put
- 11:05 AM – High Jump
- 1:45 PM – 400m
Tejaswin’s background as a world-class high jumper gives him a natural advantage in the vertical events, but the decathlon will test his all-round athleticism. He’ll be aiming to stay in touch with the top contenders across all events and make his mark to land a medal in decathlon for India.
5:45 AM – Men’s High Jump Qualification: Sarvesh Kushare
India’s hopes in high jump rest with Sarvesh Kushare, who has cleared 2.26m in the past. He’ll need to be consistent in qualification to book his place in the final. While he isn’t a favourite for gold, a clean jump series could see him competing for a podium spot later in the week.
5:50 AM – Men’s 1500m Round 1: Yoonus Shah Steps Up
With Ajay Kumar Saroj, the 2023 Asian champion, missing out this year, Yoonus Shah takes on the responsibility in the men’s 1500m. Shah will be aiming to qualify smoothly from the heats, but with seasoned runners from Bahrain, Japan, and Iran in the mix, the round will be a tactical test for the young Indian.
6:50 AM – Women’s 400m Round 1: Rupal Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj
India’s resurgence in the 400m continues with Rupal Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj beginning their individual campaigns. Both are part of India’s elite quarter-mile relay squads and will be expected to cruise through their heats. Rupal, known for her powerful finishes, and Vithya, with her consistent season, are key medal contenders.
8:00 AM – Men’s Triple Jump Qualification: Abdulla Aboobacker & Praveen Chithravel
This is one of India’s strongest events on paper. Abdulla Aboobacker, the defending champion, and Praveen Chithravel, who has consistently jumped beyond 17m, will look to ease through the qualifying mark. India will be hoping both safely advance to the final, where a podium sweep is not out of the question if all goes well.
11:10 AM – Women’s Javelin Throw Final: Annu Rani’s First Shot at Glory
India’s first medal opportunity of the championships comes through Annu Rani, the reigning national champion and former Asian gold medallist.
With a season-best already over 60 metres, Annu will look to reclaim her title. The challenge will come from athletes from Japan, China, and Uzbekistan, but her big-match temperament and experience give her a serious shot at the podium.
12:35 PM – Women’s 400m Semi-Final: Back on the Track
Assuming qualification in the morning, both Rupal and Vithya will return for the semifinals. This will be a more competitive round, with Bahraini and Kazakh runners expected to push the pace. The duo will aim to book their places in the final, keeping India’s strong 400m legacy alive.
12:50 PM – Men’s 10,000m Final: Gulveer Singh and Sawan Barwal
Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh leads India’s charge in the men’s 10,000m final, with Sawan Barwal alongside him. Gulveer, who has shown strong domestic form, will aim to stay with the leading pack. With East Asian athletes traditionally dominating this event, a medal will require not just endurance but clever race execution.
Day 1 offers a comprehensive picture of India’s strength across events. From multi-discipline performers like Tejaswin, experienced names like Annu Rani, to young talents like Rupal Chaudhary and Yoonus Shah, the day will test depth, discipline, and composure. While some events are about setting the stage for later finals, a medal in javelin and strong decathlon scores could lift morale early in the campaign.
India will hope to hit the ground running in Gumi — because at a continental championship, momentum on Day 1 often dictates the tone for the entire week.
