World Athletics U20: India won three medals at the recently concluded World Athletics U20 Championship. The Junior Championship was taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the winners and was hopeful about India's prospects in athletics in the future.
"Congratulations to our athletes for bringing home 2 Silver medals & a Bronze medal at World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya. Athletics is gaining popularity across India & it is a great sign for the times to come. Best wishes to our hardworking athletes," the PM said to ANI.
India's two medals came in 4x400 Metres Relay (Bronze) and in 10,000 Metres Race Walk where Amit Khatri won a silver medal. On the last day of the championship, India won its third medal where Shaili Singh won a silver medal and lost the gold medal by just 0.01 meters in Long Jump.
Shaili performed a 6.59m jump in the final, while the gold medals Maja Askag of Sweden took a leap of 6.60. So close, ye so far for Shaili. This is the most medals India has won at a Single U20 World Athletics Championship
Nonetheless, Shaili won a silver medal for India and took the medals tally to three. India won two silvers and one bronze medal this year. In the World Athletics U20 Medals table, India finished at the 21 rank with three medals. Amit Khatri won a medal in his debut tournament.
After the win, Amit Khatri said how difficult it was for him to perform in Kenya. “As it’s (as Nairobi is almost at 2000 meters) a high altitude so breathing problem for me. It was my first international competition and I won silver for India. I’m happy that at least I could fulfill the hopes of India,” said Amit to Indian Express after the performance.
Since Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal in Javelin Throw and became India's only gold medalist in athletics in Olympics, there has been a wave of positivity around the world of sports and athletics in India.