India secures five medals, featuring one gold, on the opening day of the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships.

India made a remarkable start at the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships, securing a total of five medals, including a prestigious gold in the mixed 4x400m relay on Thursday. The Indian team, comprising Astik Pradhan, Sandra Mol Sabu, Sethu Mishra, and Shravani Sachin Sangle, delivered an impressive performance, finishing the relay in 3 minutes and 18.64 seconds, which clinched the top position in the final event of the day.

The opening day of the championships saw India not only bagging the gold but also adding a silver and three bronze medals to their tally. Bhartpreet Singh was the first to secure a medal for India, achieving a bronze in the men's discus throw with a throw of 52.91 meters. The gold medal in this event went to China’s Li Zhixin, who recorded a throw of 60.79 meters, while his compatriot Jiang Zehao took home the silver with a distance of 59.60 meters.

In the men's 5000m race final, Indian athletes showcased their strength by finishing in second and third places. Shivaji Parashuram Madappagoudra earned the silver medal with a time of 14:08.19, while Vinod Singh followed closely to secure the bronze in 14:23.67. The gold medal in this event was claimed by Japan’s Rui Suzuki, who completed the race in 14:01.24.

The day concluded with another bronze medal for India, this time in the women's 3000m steeplechase, where Prachi Devkar clocked 10 minutes and 32.69 seconds. The event was dominated by Chinese athletes, with Yang Yiting winning gold in 10:14.68 and Liu Yuxin taking silver with a time of 10:25.51. Overall, India is represented by a contingent of 53 athletes at this inaugural edition of the championships, marking a significant moment in the nation’s athletics journey.