The 26th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships got off to a promising start for India in Gumi, South Korea, as the nation picked up its first gold by Gulveer Singh and bronze medal by Servin of the competition and witnessed strong performances across multiple disciplines.
From a historic win in the men’s 10,000m to a hard-fought podium in race walk and a commanding Day 1 decathlon display by Tejaswin Shankar, the Indian contingent gave fans much to cheer for on opening day.
Gulveer Singh Ends Gold Drought in 10,000m
India’s headline moment of Day 1 came courtesy of Gulveer Singh, who produced a brilliant tactical race in the men’s 10,000 metres to clinch India’s first gold medal at this distance in the Asian Championships after an eight-year wait. Clocking 28:38.63, Gulveer held off Japan’s Mebuki Suzuki (28:43.84) and Bahrain’s Albert Rop (28:46.82, PB) in a tightly contested race.
This victory was not just a personal triumph for Gulveer, who has been India’s standout distance runner this season, but it also significantly boosts his qualification prospects for the World Championships later this year. As the area champion, he now earns crucial ranking points toward global selection.
Servin Sebastian Takes Bronze in 20km Race Walk
India’s medal tally opened earlier in the day when Servin Sebastian walked to a career-best performance in the men’s 20km race walk, clocking 1:24:14 to claim the bronze medal. China’s Wang Zhaozhao stormed to gold in a championship record time of 1:20:37, while Japan’s Kento Yoshikawa took silver at 1:20:46.
For Servin, who narrowly missed the Paris Olympic berth last season, the medal marked a redemptive moment. Having shown consistent improvement over the past 18 months, his podium finish is a testament to persistence and resilience. It is also India’s first men’s 20km race walk medal at the Asian Championships since 2023.
Tejaswin Shankar Leads After Day 1 in Decathlon
A key storyline for India on Day 1 was Tejaswin Shankar’s commanding performance in the decathlon, where he leads the standings at the end of five events with 4,205 points, ahead of Japan’s Yuma Maruyama (4,065 pts). Despite a relatively modest start in the 100m (11.20s for 817 pts), Shankar rebounded strongly in later events:
- Long Jump: 7.28m (881 pts)
- Shot Put: 13.79m PB (715 pts)
- High Jump: 2.19m SB (982 pts)
- 400m: 50.10s (810 pts)
His high jump and shot put efforts were particularly noteworthy, showing his versatility and ability to score heavily across both track and field components. With five more events to come, including his favoured 110m hurdles and javelin, Shankar is in a strong position to chase his personal best and a potential gold.
Three enter 400m Events
The men’s 400m semifinals saw Vishal TK deliver a standout performance, clocking a personal best of 46.05s to secure a place in the final. Jay Kumar, however, fell short with 46.87s in his semifinal heat and missed qualification.
Finalists from across Asia will provide stiff competition, with athletes like Japan’s Fuga Sato (45.73s) and Sri Lanka’s Kalinga Kumarage (45.74s) leading the pack. Vishal, now carrying India’s hopes in the final, will look to capitalize on his current form.
In the women’s 400m, Rupal Chaudhary (53.00s) and Vithya Ramraj (53.32s) both advanced to the final. With past Indian success in this event—including Aishwarya Mishra’s silver in 2023 and P.T. Usha’s storied legacy—expectations are high from the current generation. Japan’s Matsumoto, however, remains the one to beat.
Annu Rani Misses Podium in Women’s Javelin
In a rare off-day, Annu Rani, India’s national record holder in javelin, missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with a best throw of 58.30m. The podium was claimed by China’s Su Lingdan (63.29m), and Japan’s Momone Ueda (59.39m) and Sae Takemoto (58.94m).
Annu had previously medaled at the Asian Championships with bronze in 2017 and silver in 2019. Despite a strong start with 56.92m in her opening attempt, her later efforts couldn’t match the standard required for the podium.
Other Highlights
- Sarvesh Kushare safely advanced to the men’s high jump final with a clearance of 2.10m. The reigning world indoor champion Woo Sang-hyeok is among the top contenders in the field, but Sarvesh, a former silver medallist (2.26m in 2023), remains in the hunt.
- Yoonus Shah advanced to the 1500m final with a time of 3:46.96, finishing second in his heat. The Federation Cup silver medallist showed great form but admitted to a minor lapse in concentration, which cost him the top spot in his heat.
Day 1 Summary: A Promising Start
India ended Day 1 of the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 with:
- 1 Gold (Gulveer Singh – 10,000m)
- 1 Bronze (Servin Sebastian – 20km Race Walk)
- Strong Lead in Decathlon (Tejaswin Shankar)
- Final Qualifications in Men’s and Women’s 400m
While the early morning saw mixed results, including disappointments in women’s javelin, the day was defined by resilience and breakthroughs—highlighted by Gulveer’s historic gold and Tejaswin’s all-round excellence. With multiple finals lined up for Day 2, including the conclusion of the decathlon, men’s 400m, and women’s 400m, Indian athletics is poised for more podium moments.
Looking Ahead to Day 2:
- Tejaswin Shankar will aim to convert his overnight lead into a decathlon gold.
- Rupal, Vithya, and Vishal will compete in their respective 400m finals.
- Yoonus Shah lines up in the men’s 1500m final.
- Sarvesh Kushare will contest the men’s high jump final.
With momentum on their side, India’s athletes will look to build on Day 1’s achievements in what’s shaping up to be a fruitful championship campaign.
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