India’s young track and field contingent delivered a promising all-round performance at the 2025 Asian Youth Games, finishing with a total of nine medals (five silver, four bronze) across both track and field disciplines.
The results underline the depth and emerging potential of India’s junior athletics system, which continues to produce world-class talent in sprints, throws, and walks. The Indian team ranked 13th overall in the Games’ medal standings, but within athletics, their consistency and podium finishes reflected the country’s growing competitiveness at the continental level. The standout performances came from India’s young sprinters and middle-distance runners, who excelled on the track.
Bhumika Nehate Bronze in 200m (Girls)
Bhumika Nehate’s explosive pace was on full display as she clocked 24.43 seconds (PB) in the girls’ 200m final to bag the bronze medal. She had earlier dominated her heat with a time of 25.07 seconds. Her clean sprint mechanics and strong finish secured India’s first track medal among the girls, reaffirming her reputation as one of the country’s fastest juniors.
Edwina Jason Double Silver in 400m and Medley Relay
In the girls’ 400m, Edwina Jason produced two strong runs to earn silver, first clocking 55.71 seconds (PB) in the heats and then improving slightly to 55.43 seconds in the final. Her rhythm and composure through the final stretch kept her ahead of most of the field, narrowly missing gold.
Edwina later anchored India’s Girls’ Medley Relay team comprising Bhumika Nehate, Shourya Ambure, and Tannu to another silver medal, clocking 2:09.65, a marked improvement from their heat time (2:12.00). Their well-coordinated baton exchanges and controlled pacing made the relay one of India’s most satisfying performances of the meet.
Another key highlight came from Shourya Ambure, who clinched silver in the 100m hurdles, clocking 13.73 seconds (PB) in the final after posting 14.00 seconds in the semifinal. Her improved timing under pressure showed both technical refinement and competitive confidence.
Ranjana Yadav Silver in 5000m Walk
In endurance events, Ranjana Yadav delivered an outstanding performance in the Girls’ 5000m Walk, clocking 24:25.88 to claim silver. She maintained steady rhythm and excellent technique throughout, holding off strong challenges from East Asian competitors. Her teammate Riya Rathore finished fourth in the same event (26:44.34). Among the boys, the standout came from Palash Mandal, who secured bronze in the 5000m Walk with a time of 24:48.92. His disciplined pacing and strong finish ensured India’s first medal in the men’s track events.
Sprinters Divyansh Raj and Nihal Kamal both made commendable runs in the 100m, clocking 11.11s and 12.63s, respectively, in the semifinals, though they narrowly missed out on final qualification. Ramu Lodenga showed impressive potential, setting personal bests in both the 200m (22.47s) and 400m (49.62s) events. His 400m semifinal time of 49.51s placed him fifth overall — a strong finish for a youth athlete at continental level. He later teamed up with Divyansh, Neil Rathanam, and Nihal Kamal in the boys’ medley relay, where the team finished fifth in 1:59.96.
Field Events: Promising Results and Personal Bests
India’s young throwers and jumpers also made their mark, producing a series of personal bests and medals in the field.
Zubin Gohain Bronze in High Jump
The highlight of India’s field campaign was Zubin Gohain’s bronze in the boys’ high jump, where he cleared 2.03m (PB). His flawless technique and composure under pressure earned him the bronze a remarkable result for one of the youngest jumpers in the final. Himanshu Singh, competing in the same event, also cleared 2.03m (PB) but missed out on a medal on countback, finishing fourth. In the girls’ section, Oshin registered a personal best of 43.38m in the Discus Throw, securing silver. The Odisha-based thrower displayed excellent balance and timing, with her third throw sealing the podium spot.
Jasmine Kaur Bronze in Shot Put
Another podium finish came from Jasmine Kaur, who won bronze in the girls’ shot put with a throw of 14.86m, just ahead of compatriot Joy Baidwan, who finished sixth (14.53m).
In the boys’ events, Swapnil Dutta finished sixth in the Discus Throw with 51.53m (PB), while Ravi set a new personal best of 16.23m to place fourth in Shot Put. Both narrowly missed the podium but showed encouraging improvement. In the Javelin Throw, Prince placed fourth (61.92m), and Pradeep Kumar recorded 6.45m in the Long Jump to finish 11th.
On the girls’ side, Misti Karmakar (42.05m) and Siya Banjara (42.32m, PB) placed eighth and seventh respectively in the Javelin Throw, while Yashvitha Potanapalli finished 10th in the High Jump with 1.50m.
India’s Medal Summary in Athletics
- 🥈 Silver (5):
- Edwina Jason – 400m
- Shourya Ambure – 100m Hurdles
- Ranjana Yadav – 5000m Walk
- Oshin – Discus Throw
- Girls’ Medley Relay (Bhumika, Edwina, Shourya, Tannu)
- 🥉 Bronze (4):
- Bhumika Nehate – 200m
- Palash Mandal – 5000m Walk
- Jasmine Kaur – Shot Put
- Zubin Gohain – High Jump
Final Tally and Takeaway
With nine medals (5 silver, 4 bronze), India’s athletics contingent capped off a successful campaign marked by steady progress, technical refinement, and a series of personal bests. China continued its traditional dominance with 36 total medals, while India finished 13th overall in the Games standings a respectable position given the youth contingent’s limited international exposure.
The blend of sprinting excellence, strong throws, and disciplined walking events suggests a bright future for India’s track and field. More importantly, the spread of medals across both genders and multiple disciplines highlights the effectiveness of India’s youth development system one that’s steadily narrowing the gap with Asia’s best. The 2025 Asian Youth Games have thus offered a glimpse into the future of Indian athletics one built on balance, belief, and a generation ready to sprint, jump, and throw India onto bigger podiums in the years ahead.
