Asian U23 Athletics C'ships: Dev Meena, Kuldeep Kumar to lead star-studded Indian team

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has shortlisted 54-member track and field team for the upcoming inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships to be held in the Chinese City of Ordos from July 9 -12.

"Youngsters in the national team will surely make a big impression in next month’s Asian U23 track and field meet in China," AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said.

Madhya Pradesh’s talented pole vaulters Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar, joint national record holder (5.45m), are among prominent names in the national team.

Uttar Pradesh’s rising steeplechase runner Sharuk Khan (3,000m steeplechase) and Maharashtra’s talented javelin thrower, Shivam Lohakare, are also among 31 male athletes in the team.

Shaili Singh (long jump) and Aarti (race walk) are among known personalities in the women’s team. Aarti won bronze medal in women’s 10,000m race walk at 2024 World U20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru. Aarti will compete in the 21km race walk in China.

Shaili won silver medal in women’s long jump at the 2021 World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. The star Uttar Pradesh long jumper has been competing at the senior level too and has a personal best of 6.76m, national U20 record.

Indian team

Men: Vibhaskar Kumar, Sam Vasanth S (100m/4x100m relay), Harsh Santosh Raut, Mohamed Shan P, Laukik Anant Melge, Aniket Nalawade (4x100m relay), Astik Pradhan, Setu Mishra (400m/4x400m relay), Aman Chaudhary, Sharan M, Sahil Malik, Tarandeep Singh (4x400m relay), Shakeel, Vinod Kumar Bhanot (800m), Sakir, Ritik Deol (1500m), Shivaji Parashuram (5,000m/10,000m), Vinod Singh (5,000m), Shailesh Kushwaha (10,000m), Sharuk Khan (3,000m steeplechase), Sudeep (high jump), Mohammed Muhassin (triple jump), Dev Kumar Meena, Kuldeep Kumar (pole vault), Mohd Atta Sazid (long jump), Bharatpreet Singh (discus throw), Shivam Lohakare, Anand Singh (javelin throw), Harshit Kumar (hammer throw), Abhijit Bhosale (decathlon). Sachin G (race walk 21km).

Women: Kiruthika, Akshaya S, V Sudheeksha, Sanjana, Abinaya Rajarajan (4x100m relay), Huidrom Bhumeshwor (800m/1500m), Vaishnavi Rawal (800m), Shreeya Rajesh, Sabita Toppo (100m hurdles), Prachi Devkar (3000m steeplechase), Nitika Anup Akare (pole vault), Shaili Singh (long jump), Vidhi (shot put), Anupriya VS (shot put), Priya (discus throw), Shravani Sachin Sangle (400m hurdles/ 4x400m relay), Nofisa Khatun, Tahura Khatun, Boomika Nehate, Sandra Mol Sabu, C Janice Stella (4x400m relay), Anamika KA (heptathlon), Aarti (race walk 21km).