Asian U-18 Youth Athletics Championship: Nitin Gupta, Tannu win silver for India; Nishchay bags bronze in discus

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Asian U-18 Youth Athletics Championship: It was a proud day for India at the sixth Asian Under-18 Athletics Championship, as the nation's young athletes showcased their mettle on the continental stage.

In a thrilling display of stamina and grit, Nitin Gupta and Tannu captured silver medals in their respective events, while Nishchay added a bronze to India's growing tally.

The spotlight was firmly on 17-year-old Nitin Gupta, who delivered a valiant performance in the boys' 5000m race walk. In what turned out to be a photo-finish, Gupta clocked 20:21.51 seconds, missing the gold by a mere 0.01 seconds to China's Zhu Ninghao, who edged ahead at 20:21.50 seconds. The bronze was claimed by Chinese Taipei's Sheng Qin Lo with a timing of 21:37.88 seconds.

Gupta, already a rising star in the national circuit, had broken his own national record just last month at the National Youth Athletics Championship in Patna, where he clocked a personal best of 19:24.48 seconds. Though he couldn't replicate that timing in Dammam, his tenacity in a tightly contested race earned him deserved applause.

In the girls' 400m race, Tannu made her mark by claiming the silver with a determined run of 57.63 seconds. It was Japan's Imamine Saki who topped the podium with a time of 57.27 seconds, narrowly beating Tannu in the final stretch. China's Deng Nanxi settled for the bronze in 58.01 seconds. Meanwhile, fellow Indian athlete Edwina Jason finished fifth, clocking 58.46 seconds in a commendable effort.

Tannu's performance brought cheer to the Indian camp, with her silver serving as testament to the consistent strides Indian women athletes are making at the youth level.

Adding to the medal haul, Nishchay secured a bronze in the boys' discus throw event, registering an impressive distance of 58.85 metres. The young thrower demonstrated both power and poise, finishing on the podium in a fiercely contested field.

The Indian contingent's strong start at the championship sets an encouraging tone for the rest of the competition. "We are thrilled with the way our athletes have started. The margins were narrow, but their spirit is what defines them," said an official from the Athletics Federation of India.

With more events lined up later in the day, including the long jump and 100m sprints for both boys and girls, the Indian camp remains optimistic about adding more silverware. The sixth edition of the championship is proving to be a significant testing ground for Asia's future stars-and India's youth are rising to the challenge with gusto.

As the Dammam sun casts its golden hue over the track, India's young talents continue to shine with silver and bronze, their eyes firmly set on gold.