Eighteen-year-old Rahul Jakhar, from Gujarat’s Valsad district, clinched the gold medal in the decathlon at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong. Setting a new Indian Under-20 national record, Jakhar scored 7,185 points over the two-day competition, establishing himself as a top young athlete in Asia for the discipline.
This victory is a significant milestone for Indian athletics, with Jakhar emerging as the leading decathlete in Asia in the under-20 category. Hailing from Charvada village in Valsad district, Jakhar’s family originally from Rajasthan’s Sikar district settled in Vapi, where they ventured into the construction business.
Jakhar’s success is attributed to his dedication to training and progression through Gujarat’s sports development system. Speaking from Hong Kong after his win, Jakhar expressed gratitude to his coaches and highlighted the support provided by the Gujarat government in offering excellent facilities for athletes. His aspiration now is to represent India at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, for which he is committed to rigorous preparation.
Coach Shivam Upadhyay emphasized the demanding nature of the decathlon, requiring athletes to excel in ten disciplines. Jakhar’s record-breaking performance and gold medal win have positioned him as the national record holder in the Under-20 category. Currently training at the Sports Authority of Gujarat’s High-Performance Centre in Nadiad, Jakhar benefits from specialized coaching and sports science support.
Starting his athletic journey under coach Vipul Chaudhary, Jakhar’s talent was recognized, leading to advanced training at the Nadiad centre. With guidance from coaches Upadhyay, Parmar, and Upadhyay, Jakhar has evolved into a promising combined-events athlete in India. His introduction to athletics happened unexpectedly during an evening walk with his father in Vapi, eventually propelling him towards competitive success.
Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi commended Jakhar’s achievement, attributing it to Gujarat’s robust sports ecosystem and infrastructure under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership. The state’s commitment to nurturing young talent for national and international success is evident in Jakhar’s triumph, reflecting the state’s efforts to support athletes at all levels.
