The first batch of Indian contingent reached Gumi on May 22 to get use to local weather conditions.
The men’s 20km race walk will be the first medal event of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships on Tuesday in Gumi, South Korea.
Indian duo of Servin Sebastian, 25, and Amit, 21, have posted a competitive time in the build up to the continental competition and are expected to give a head start to the national contingent on the opening day of five-day competition in South Korea. “The local weather conditions in the morning are conducive for distance events. I should be able to improve my personal best on Tuesday,” Sebastian said of his preparation.
Sebastian posted a personal best of 1:21:23 in the men’s 20km race walk in February to win gold at the Uttarakhand National Games. He continued his good run at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in April by winning gold (1:21:47) in 20km.
Amit, the second Indian athlete in action in the men’s 20km race walking in Gumi has a personal and season best of 1:21:52 posted in April in Chandigarh.
After the race walking event in the morning session, focus during the day will shift to track and field events.
The women’s javelin throw, the second medal event on Tuesday will witness India’s leading thrower and Asian Games champion—Annu Rani, 32, in action. Annu has a season best of 58.82m recorded in March in Mumbai. Her personal best and national record of 63.82m was set in 2022. The Indian javelin thrower however, finished fourth at the previous edition of the continental meet in Bangkok in 2023.
The day will also see Indian quarter-milers go through the preliminary round grid to advance to the semis schedule later during the day. Rupal Chaudhary, Vithya Ramraj (both women), Jay Kumar and Vishal TK (both men) will be in action in their respective 400m heats.
At the fag-end of the day-one, onus will be on India’s star distance runner and Asian Games medallist Gulveer Singh, 26, to enhance medal tally. He will compete in the men’s 10,000m. Singh has a personal and season best time of 27:00.22 seconds posted earlier in March on the USA circuit. Sawan Barwal will be second Indian runner in fray in the 25-lap race.
Sarvesh Anil Kushare (men’s high jump qualification) and Yoonus Shah (men’s 1500m heat) will also be in action on day-one of the Asian meet.
The Indian men’s triple jump team of Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker too have a bright chance of podium. Aboobacker is the defending champion. Chithravel’s season best of 17.37m recorded during a domestic meet in April, has given a big boost to his confidence. “There will be no triple jump qualification on day-one. The competitors will directly showcase their potential in the final on day-two,” chief national coach Radhakrishnan Nair said.
