Shaili Singh, Dev Kumar Meena Headline India’s 54-Member Squad for Inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships
India has announced a strong 54-member contingent for the inaugural Asian Under-23 Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held in Ordos, China, from July 9 to 12.
The squad features some of the country’s most promising young talents, including long jumper Shaili Singh, pole vaulters Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar, and javelin thrower Shivam Lohakare. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has selected a balanced squad comprising 31 men and 23 women, with athletes competing across track and field events as India aims to make a significant impact at the first-ever edition of the continental championship.
Among the biggest names in the squad is Shaili Singh, one of India’s brightest prospects in athletics. The Uttar Pradesh athlete burst onto the international stage when she won a silver medal in the women’s long jump at the 2021 World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi. Since then, she has continued to establish herself at the senior level while maintaining her dominance among age-group athletes.
Shaili owns a personal best of 6.76m, which remains the national U20 record. She recently claimed silver at the Federation Cup in Ranchi with a jump of 6.58m and will enter the Asian U23 Championships as one of India’s strongest medal hopes. The pole vault competition will see India field two of its most exciting young athletes in Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar. Both athletes grabbed headlines earlier this season when they cleared 5.45m to jointly set a new national record in men’s pole vault.
Their performances have highlighted the rapid progress of Indian pole vaulting in recent years. Competing against some of Asia’s best emerging athletes in China will provide another opportunity for the duo to continue pushing national standards higher. Javelin thrower Shivam Lohakare will also attract considerable attention after his impressive showing at the Federation Cup. Shivam clinched the gold medal in Ranchi with a best throw of 81.71m, confirming his status as one of India’s leading young throwers.
With Indian javelin continuing to enjoy unprecedented growth following the success of Neeraj Chopra and other international medal winners, Shivam’s inclusion reflects the depth developing in the discipline.
Athletics Federation of India President Bahadur Singh Sagoo expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to perform on the continental stage.
The Indian squad also includes several promising track athletes who have shown consistent improvement over the past year. In the men's events, rising steeplechaser Sharuk Khan from Uttar Pradesh will be one of the athletes to watch. Sharuk has emerged as a promising name in the 3000m steeplechase and will look to test himself against Asia’s best U23 runners.
India’s middle-distance contingent features athletes such as Shakeel, Vinod Kumar Bhanot, Sakir and Ritik Deol, while the sprint and relay squads include Vibhaskar Kumar, Sam Vasanth S, Harsh Santosh Raut, Mohamed Shan P and several others who have impressed on the domestic circuit.
The women's team is equally strong and includes race walker Aarti, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m race walk at the 2024 World U20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru. She will compete in the 21km race walk event in Ordos and will be one of India’s leading medal contenders.
The women’s squad also features Huidrom Bhumeshwor in the middle-distance events, Prachi Devkar in the 3000m steeplechase, Nitika Anup Akare in pole vault and several members of India’s emerging relay teams.
Relay events are expected to be an important area for India, with teams entered in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m competitions. Several athletes have been selected specifically for relay duties, highlighting AFI’s focus on building strong relay programmes ahead of future international championships. The inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships offers a crucial platform for India’s next generation of athletes. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle underway and major competitions such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games on the horizon, performances in Ordos will provide valuable international experience.
For many athletes in the squad, the championship represents an opportunity to make their mark on the continental stage and establish themselves as future senior internationals.
Led by proven performers such as Shaili Singh, Dev Kumar Meena, Kuldeep Kumar and Shivam Lohakare, India will travel to China with high expectations and hopes of returning home with a substantial medal haul from the historic inaugural edition of the Asian U23 Athletics Championships.
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