Elite champions and emerging stars deliver standout performances in Gumi, South Korea
The 26th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships wrapped up on May 31, 2025, in Gumi, South Korea, with stellar performances from Olympic medallists, world champions, and rising talents. The five-day event set the stage for Paris 2024 qualifiers and national records across the board.
Arshad Nadeem Dominates Men’s Javelin
- Pakistan’s Olympic silver medallist Arshad Nadeem won gold with a season-best throw of 86.40m.
- He was the only athlete in the field to surpass the 85m mark.
- India’s Sachin Yadav earned silver with a personal best of 85.16m.
- Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama claimed bronze with 83.75m.
Norah Jeruto’s Stunning Distance Double
- Norah Jeruto Tanui of Kazakhstan won gold in both the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.
- Her 5000m win was secured in a tactical race, showing strong closing speed.
- She returned to top form after a lengthy absence due to suspension.
Gulveer Singh Delivers Golden Double for India
- Gulveer Singh claimed gold in both the 10,000m and 5000m events.
- His 5000m time of 13:24.77 was a new championship record.
- The 10,000m gold came in 28:38.63, as he broke away in the final lap.
India’s Best-Ever Showing at the Asian Championships
India finished second in the overall medal tally with 24 medals:
- Gold: 8
- Silver: 10
- Bronze: 6
Key highlights from the Indian team:
- Animesh Kujur set a national record of 20.32 seconds in the 200m, winning bronze.
- Parul Chaudhary won silver in the women’s 5000m, adding to her steeplechase medal.
- Pooja secured silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 800m.
- The women’s 4x100m relay team earned silver with a time of 43.86 seconds.
- Vithya Ramraj took bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Final Medal Tally (Top 3 Nations)
- China – 15 Gold, 26 Total
- India – 8 Gold, 24 Total
- Japan – 4 Gold, 24 Total
The championships served as a crucial preparatory platform ahead of the World Athletics Championships and the Paris Olympics. With continental records broken and personal bests shattered, Gumi 2025 will be remembered as one of the most competitive editions in Asian athletics history.
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