Nitin Gupta is the first Indian to break the 19 minutes barrier for 5,000m race walk. He will be in action on Day-Four of the global U20 event at Hayward Field, University of Oregon.
Spotlight will be on India’s promising race walker Nitin Gupta in the men’s 5,000m event at theWorld Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 being held at Hayward Field in Eugene between August 5 to 9. The 18 years old is the first Indian to break the 19 minutes barrier for 5,000m race walk this season in April during a domestic meet in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
In May he also won gold in the men’s 5,000m with a time of 19:47.49 seconds at the Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong.
Nitin Gupta is favourite to win the title at the World U20. The Indian race walker is leading the chart as per the entries having a time of 18:54.37 clocked in April. The 18 years old Indian athlete is likely to face a strong challenge from Chinese race walker Pu Huajia.
Australia’s Isaac Beacroft, winner of the men’s 10,000m race walker at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be another strong contender for a medal.
Peru’s José Duvan Ccoscco Sueldo, Italy’s Alessio Coppola, and Mexico’s Emiliano Barba are other athletes in fray to watch during the men’s 5,000m race walk in Oregon.
EOM
