Aarti Shines With Bronze and National Record at World U20 Athletics Championships

Aarti secured a bronze medal in the women's 10000m race walk with a national U20 record time at the World U20 Athletics Championships, opening India's medal tally. Several other national records were broken, highlighting India's strong performance in the event held in Lima, Peru.

Aarti clinched a bronze medal in the women's 10000m race walk event with a national U20 record time to open India's medal tally account at the World U20 Athletics Championships. The 17-year-old recorded a timing of 44:39.99s, ensuring a podium finish on the penultimate day of the Athletics Championships.

Aarti shattered the previous national record of 47:21.04s, which she had set earlier this year at the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow. China's Zhuoma Baima (43:26.60) and Meiling Chen (44:30.67) claimed the gold and silver medals, respectively.

This is not the only national record to fall during the World Athletics U-20 Championships. Pooja Singh broke the U20 women's national record in the high jump, achieving a leap of 1.83m to finish second in qualification round group B and ninth overall. Meanwhile, Sharuk Khan set a new U-20 national record in the men's 3000m steeplechase, completing the race in 8:45.12s.

The World Athletics U20 Championships 2024, held in Lima from August 28 to 31, saw India fielding a team of 43 athletes—23 men and 20 women—for the four-day competition.

(With inputs from agencies.)