Indian Contingent Sets Sight on Glory at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024

A 43-member Indian team gears up for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru, competing from August 28-31. Athletes will participate in men's and women's events, including a 4x400m mixed relay. Key athletes like Dipanshu Sharma and Bapi Hansda will aim for podium finishes.

The 43-member Indian squad is gearing up for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru from August 28 to 31. The team will be participating in both men's and women's events, with a total of 23 athletes in men's competitions and 20 in women's. Additionally, India is set to compete in the 4x400m mixed relay race, according to Olympics.com.

Notable athletes include Dipanshu Sharma, the current Asian U20 champion in men's javelin throw, who is set to play a pivotal role for India. Earlier this year, India secured seven medals at the Asian Championships in Dubai, with gold medals won by Anurag Singh Kaler (shot put), Ranvir Singh (3000m steeplechase), Harshit Kumar (hammer throw), Pavana Nagaraj (long jump), Ekta Dey (3000m steeplechase), and the women's 4x400m relay team. Many of these athletes will now compete in Peru.

Bapi Hansda will be participating in the 4x400m relay and the 400m events after recovering from dengue, which caused him to miss the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in April. Last year, in the Cali U20 World Athletics Championships, India bagged two silver medals (Selva Thirumaran in triple jump and mixed 4x400m relay) and one bronze (Rupal Chaudhary in 400m). The USA led the medal tally in the 2022 World Championships with 15 medals.

Indian athletes have a rich history at the U20 Championships, with Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra being the first Indian to secure a title, setting a junior javelin record in 2016. Hima Das also claimed gold in the 400m at the 2018 Tampere Championships.

(With inputs from agencies.)