Young Indian sprinter Nipam clinched the bronze medal in the 100m event at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships in Hong Kong. Despite a slow start, the 18-year-old shifted gears to finish with a time of 11.62 seconds, securing the bronze. Nipam, who holds the national U20 record, expressed excitement over her achievement.
Qatar’s Dana Noor Salem, aged 16, claimed the gold medal with a time of 11.47 seconds, while China’s Xinxuan Chen, also 16, secured the silver in 11.54 seconds. Nipam, a member of India’s 4x100m relay team, is optimistic about winning more medals in the ongoing championships.
In other events, India’s Vikas Kumar narrowly missed a medal in the men’s 3,000m race, finishing fourth with a personal best time of 8:24.88. Meanwhile, Neeru Pathak comfortably won her heat in the women’s 400m with a time of 54.42 seconds, ensuring a spot in the final alongside Tahura Khatun, who finished second in her heat.
India’s prospects in the decathlon look promising, with Rahul Jakhar delivering a strong performance on the first day. Jakhar showcased his skills across various events, earning significant points in the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400m. The championships, spanning four days, will culminate on May 31.
