Athletics
Bapi Hansda ruled out of World Athletics U20 Championships
Bapi Hansda's absence is a major setback for India as he was set to compete in the 400m and 4x400m Relay events in Lima, Peru.
Bapi Hansda, a promising hurdler and quarter-miler, has been ruled out of the forthcoming World Athletics U20 Championships, scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31.
Hansda, who was part of the 43-member Indian contingent, has been diagnosed with dengue, which forced him to pull out of the event.
His absence from the Junior World Championships was a big setback for India.
Hansda, who trains at the Sports Authority of India's southern centre in Bengaluru, was set to compete in the 400m and 4x400m Relay events.
Hansda, who hails from Odisha's Balasore district, rose to prominence in 2023 when he won the 400m hurdles at the 18th National Youth Athletics Championships in Udupi, Karnataka. He clocked 51.95 seconds.
In the heats at the same event, Hansda clocked 51.90 seconds, setting his then-personal best record. He would improve his record and set a new PB (51.38s) when he won a silver medal at the Youth Asian Athletics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in April 2023.
In the 400m race, Hansda has a personal best and season-best of 46.90 seconds. He clocked the new timing in March this year at the 22nd National Federation Cup U20 in Lucknow, where he won gold and set a new record.
In his absence, India may find it hard to make a mark in the 400m events.