New Delhi: India experienced double delight on Thursday as India’s fastest woman hurdler, Jyothi Yarraji and national record-holding steeplechase runner, Avinash Sable, produced sensational performances to win gold medals in their respective track and field disciplines at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Sable’s season-best performance made him the first Indian man in 36 years to win a gold medal in steeplechase at the Asian Championships.
AVINASH SABLE WINS GOLD IN 3000M SC 🥇 pic.twitter.com/CGhb8TghT2
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) May 29, 2025
Shortly after Sable’s incredible display, Jyothi scripted history by claiming her second successive gold medal at Asian Athletics with a new championship record of 12.96 seconds, breaking the previous record of 13.04 seconds, set by Kazakhstan’s Olga Shishigina in 1998 and Sun Yawei of China in 2011.
🚨 JYOTHI YARRAJI IS A ASIAN CHAMPION 🏆
She broke the Championship Record in Women’s 100m Hurdles with a stunning timing of 12.96s in the Asian Athletics Championship 💪
Look at the amazing acceleration at last by her, 4th Gold Medal for India 🇮🇳🥇
pic.twitter.com/3gWCpAwZ5U— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) May 29, 2025
Sable, Yarraji add a pair of golds to strengthen India’s position
Sable clocked 8:20.92 sec to claim the top podium spot to bag his second Asian medal. He bettered his silver-winning performance in the 2019 edition. The time, though, was far behind his national record of 8:09.91 sec achieved in 2024.
India’s last gold in this event came way back in 1989 when Dina Ram finished on top. Harbel Singh was the first Indian to win a men’s steeplechase gold in 1975.
Jyothi’s previous gold-medal-winning performance in the 2023 edition came with an effort of 13.09. Her personal best timing, however, is a way better 12.78 seconds – also a national record.
Jyothi joined an elite list of five athletes to defend gold in the Asian Championships 100m hurdles after Emi Akimoto of Japan (1979, 1981, 1983), Zhang Yu of China (1991, 1993), Su Yinping of China (2003, 2005) and Sun Yawei of China (2009, 2011).
India have bagged 10 medals at the ongoing edition, including four gold, four silver and two bronze so far.
Earlier in the day, India’s 4x400m men’s relay team stormed into the final with a best-ever effort to top the heat.
India claimed two gold medals at the Asian Athletics on Thursday as Jyothi Yarraji and Avinash Sable produced sensational performances in their respective events. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
