Gumi, South Korea — It was a day of triumph for Indian middle-distance running at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, as Pooja Chaudhary and Yoonus Shah clinched silver and bronze medals respectively in the women’s and men’s 1500m finals, taking India’s medal tally to five.
Pooja’s Stunning Finish Lights Up the Track
In one of the most thrilling races of the championships so far, 22-year-old Pooja from Haryana delivered a sensational sprint over the final 100 meters to capture silver in the women’s 1500m, clocking 4:10.83.
With just 200m to go, Pooja was in fifth place, boxed in by a tight group of runners. But as the bell rang for the final lap, she began to surge. On the final bend, she swung wide, unleashing a powerful kick to fly past two East Asian contenders and secure the second spot on the podium.
Only China’s Li Chunhui finished ahead of her, winning gold in 4:10.58, while Japan’s Tomoka Kimura claimed bronze in 4:11.56.
This performance marks Pooja’s first major international medal — a coming-of-age moment for the young athlete, whose raw speed and tactical patience stood out in a field filled with experience.
Yoonus Shah’s Grit Pays Off with First International Medal
Not long after Pooja’s silver, 24-year-old Yoonus Shah added to India’s medal haul with a bronze in the men’s 1500m final, clocking 3:43.03 in a tactical and tightly contested race.
Yoonus, known for his front-running style, took the lead early and maintained it through most of the race. He controlled the pace confidently and looked on track for gold until the final 50 meters, when Japan’s Kazuto Iizawa and South Korea’s Jaeung Lee mounted a late charge.
Despite being edged out at the finish, Yoonus held on for third — a monumental result in his first major international appearance.
His rise has been marked by consistency all season:
- 🥇 Gold at the National Games
- 🥇 Gold at the Indian Open Athletics Meet
- 🥇 Gold at the Federation Cup 2025, where he clocked a PB of 3:41.93
- 🥉 Now, a bronze at the Asian Championships
A breakthrough year for the young man from Uttar Pradesh, Yoonus has firmly established himself as India’s leading male middle-distance runner.
Medal Tally & Middle-Distance Momentum
With five medals now in the bag, India’s campaign at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships is gaining momentum — and the performances in the 1500m reflect a promising future for Indian middle-distance running.
Final Results – Women’s 1500m Final
🥇 Li Chunhui (China) – 4:10.58
🥈 Pooja Chaudhary (India) – 4:10.83
🥉 Tomoka Kimura (Japan) – 4:11.56
Final Results – Men’s 1500m Final
🥇 Kazuto Iizawa (Japan) – 3:42.56 (PB)
🥈 Jaeung Lee (South Korea) – 3:42.79
🥉 Yoonus Shah (India) – 3:43.03
With their fearless runs, both Pooja and Yoonus have added new energy to Indian middle-distance running. Their medals come at a time when India is pushing to close the gap with Asia’s best in track events, especially with the World Championships and Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon.
From final-bend fireworks to front-running resolve, India’s 1500m stars made Gumi a championship to remember.
And with youth on their side, this could just be the beginning.
