India had a stellar Day 3 at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, winning six medals — including three golds, two silvers, and one bronze — to take their overall tally to 14 medals (5 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) and climb to second place on the medal table.
It was a day of dominance, comebacks, and legacy-building performances from some of India’s most prominent athletes.
Avinash Sable Ends 36-Year Gold Drought in Steeplechase
India’s evening began with a commanding win by Avinash Sable in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking a season-best 8:20.92 to clinch the gold. He finished comfortably ahead of his nearest rival, Japan’s Niinae (8:24.41), asserting his continental dominance once again.
This victory was historic: it marked India’s first gold in this event at the Asian Championships since 1989, when Dina Ram won in 8:48.16. Sable also became only the third Indian to win multiple medals in this event at the Asian level, and the first to win gold in 36 years — an emphatic statement from one of India’s most consistent distance runners.
Jyothi Yarraji Sets Championship Record in 100m Hurdles
If Sable’s win was dominant, Jyothi Yarraji’s performance in the 100m hurdles was nothing short of spectacular. The defending champion lived up to her billing, clocking 12.96 seconds to win gold and set a new Championship Record.
In a race filled with seasoned competitors, Yarraji held her form through the middle stages and powered over the final few hurdles with characteristic poise. This was India’s fourth gold of the Championships and reaffirmed Jyothi’s place as Asia’s best hurdler.
Women’s 4x400m Relay: Golden Return After a Decade
India’s women’s 4x400m relay team — Jisna Mathew, Rupal Chaudhary, Rajitha Kunja, and Subha Venkatesan — delivered a thrilling performance to win gold in 3:34.18, their season’s best.
It was a hard-fought race with Vietnam and Sri Lanka pushing India all the way. The defining moment came in the final lap, where Subha Venkatesan, known for her calm under pressure, timed her sprint perfectly to retake the lead and secure victory.
This win marked India’s first gold in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Asian Championships since 2013, underlining a return to form for a traditionally strong Indian relay discipline.
Men’s 4x400m Relay Bags Silver in Close Finish
The Indian men’s 4x400m team — Jay Kumar, Dharmveer Choudhary, Manu T.S., and Vishal T.K. — narrowly missed out on gold, finishing second with a strong 3:03.67. The youthful quartet was edged out by Qatar (3:03.52), but their performance showcased promise for the future.
With an average age under 23, this silver represents a strong foundation for India’s relay ambitions ahead of the next Olympic cycle. Vishal T.K., running the anchor leg, particularly stood out with a powerful final lap that nearly stole the win.
Double Podium in Women’s Long Jump
In one of the most closely contested events of the day, Ancy Sojan leapt 6.33m to win silver while Shaili Singh clinched bronze with 6.30m, giving India a valuable double podium in the women’s long jump.
The event was led by Japan’s Sumire Hata, who managed to out-jump the Indian duo, but both Ancy and Shaili maintained their composure in wet and difficult conditions. With both jumpers ranked among the top five in Asia, this result solidifies India’s strength in the discipline.
Other Notable Performances
- In the men’s shot put, Samardeep Singh finished 6th with a best of 19.25m. The event was won with a throw of 20.32m, while bronze went at 19.92m. With Tajinderpal Singh Toor absent due to form issues, Samardeep held his own against a strong field.
- Seema Punia, in the women’s discus throw, finished 4th with a best effort of 56.15m. The gold went to China with a top throw of 61.90m.
- In the high jump, Sarvesh Anil Kushare cleared 2.19m, placing him in the mid-pack, while in the heptathlon, Agasara Nandini had a promising Day 1, registering 13.67s in 100m hurdles and 1.69m in high jump, putting her among the top contenders.
India sports schedule May 2025
India’s position in the standings is a marked improvement from the 2023 edition, where they finished third with 6 golds. With several more finals to come in the next two days, India is well poised to equal or surpass their previous best at the Asian Championships.
