Three Indian athletes narrowly missed bronze medals as they finished fourth in their respective events.

Spotlight was on Indian middle-distance runners as they won two bronze medals on Day-Two of inaugural edition of Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 in the Chinese city of Ordos on Friday. Sprinter Abhay Singh won third bronze of the day in the men’s 200m.

Shakeel set the ball rolling for the Indian team as he won bronze in the men’s 800m. He clocked 1:48.78 seconds. Vinod Kumar B, the second Indian in the 800m final, finished fourth with a time of 1:49.10 seconds.

India’s second bronze medal came in the women’s 800m race through Bhumeshwory Devi Huidrom who clocked 2:10.20 seconds. However, it was a disappointing day for Vaishnavi Rajendra Rawal as she finished fifth with a time of 2:10.83.

Uzbekistan’s Jonbibi Hukmove won gold in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:08.41. Japan’s Kurumi Sugure won silver (2:09.42).

In an exciting men’s 200m race, Abhay Singh clinched the bronze medal with a time of 20.96 seconds.

China’s Youwen Huang won gold (20.43 seconds) in the men’ 200m and Japan’s Kota Uematsu settled for silver (20.58 seconds).

India’s Sharuk Khan finished fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. His time was 9.14.14 seconds.

Abhijit Sanjay Bhosale also finished fourth in the decathlon. His overall points tally was 6610.

EOM