Now Reading: Indian U20 medallists blame injuries for missing gold
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Indian U20 medallists blame injuries for missing gold
Indian athletes who won medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon said injuries and lack of practice cost them gold. Javelin thrower Ashish Yadav, who took silver with 74.09m, said…
The Story in Brief
Indian athletes who won medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon said injuries and lack of practice cost them gold. Javelin thrower Ashish Yadav, who took silver with 74.09m, said he went straight into competition after rehab for knee and hamstring injuries. High jumper Basant Meghwal lost gold on countback and said he could have won if he had cleared 2.21m in his first attempt. Long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, who won bronze, said cramps after his third jump stopped him from pushing harder.
Meanwhile, The Hindustan Times reports that Uttar Pradesh has become a javelin powerhouse, with seven throwers crossing 80m. Ashish Yadav is among the next generation. The state's ecosystem, boosted by Neeraj Chopra's success, now blends traditional training with sports science. Veteran coach Rustam Khan said 60-70 of his 200 athletes specialise in javelin, and the depth could produce future international medal contenders.
The Indian Opinion
Missing gold by small margins is disappointing, but the narrative that Indian athletes underperform ignores context. These U20 medallists were competing despite injuries, and the UP javelin story shows a system producing depth, not just isolated stars. The real test is whether this pipeline can convert into senior medals. Will India's 80m-plus club expand enough to challenge for Olympic podiums beyond Neeraj Chopra?
Sources (2): thehindu.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
