3 National Junior Records Broken at Tumkur Athletics Meet 2025
Synopsis
Day 2 of the 24th National Junior U20 Athletics meet in Tumkur, Karnataka, produced three national records: Nitin Gupta broke the 19-minute barrier in race walk, Mohammed Ashfaq clocked 46.05s in 400m, and Shahnavaz Khan leapt 8.23m to surpass Murali Sreeshankar's long jump record from 2018.
Key Takeaways
Nitin Gupta (Army/UP) became the first Indian junior to break the 19-minute barrier in men's 5,000m race walk, clocking 18:54.37 seconds at Tumkur on April 25, 2025 .
Mohammed Ashfaq (Kerala) broke the men's 400m junior national record with 46.05 seconds , surpassing Amoj Jacob's 2017 mark of 46.26 seconds .
Shahnavaz Khan (Uttar Pradesh) jumped 8.23m to break Murali Sreeshankar's 2018 national junior long jump record of 8.20m .
Ranjana Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) set a new women's 5,000m race walk national record with 23:22.12 seconds , improving the previous mark of 23:43.58.
Six of eight finalists in the men's 400m finished under the Asian junior qualification standard of 47.53 seconds , reflecting exceptional depth in Indian junior sprinting.
Kavinraja S (Tamil Nadu) set a new national junior pole vault record at 5.12 metres , improving his own previous best of 5.11m.
Tumkur, Karnataka, April 25: The 24th National Junior (U20) Athletics Federation Competition witnessed a historic second day at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, Tumkur on Saturday, April 26, 2025, as three national junior records were shattered across track, field, and race walk events. Army athlete and Asian junior silver medalist Nitin Gupta, Kerala sprinter Mohammed Ashfaq, and Uttar Pradesh long jumper Shahnavaz Khan were the record-breaking stars of the day, signaling a powerful new generation of Indian athletics talent.
Nitin Gupta Breaks 19-Minute Barrier in Race Walk
Nitin Gupta of Uttar Pradesh, representing the Indian Army, etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian junior race walker to breach the 19-minute mark in the men's U20 5,000m race walk. He clocked an extraordinary 18:54.37 seconds, demolishing his own previous national record of 19:24.48 set in Patna last year. His performance on Saturday also surpassed the benchmark set at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships, underscoring his readiness for elite continental competition.
In the women's equivalent, Ranjana Yadav of Madhya Pradesh claimed gold and a new national record with a time of 23:22.12 seconds, improving upon the previous mark of 23:43.58 set by Manisha in Bhubaneswar last year. Both race walk performances on the same day represent a landmark moment for Indian junior distance walking.
Mohammed Ashfaq Electrifies Men's 400m with Sub-46 Clocking
The most electrifying moment of the day came in the men's 400m final, where Kerala's Mohammed Ashfaq stormed to victory in a stunning 46.05 seconds, breaking the long-standing junior national record of 46.26 seconds set by Amoj Jacob in 2017. He also erased the previous junior meet record of 46.58 seconds set by Astik Pradhan P last year.
What made the race even more remarkable was the overall quality of the field — six of the eight finalists finished under the Asian junior qualification standard of 47.53 seconds, a collective performance rarely seen at the junior national level. Piyush Raj (Bihar) finished second with 46.62 seconds, while Ranjith Kumar S (Tamil Nadu) took bronze in 46.90 seconds.
In the women's 400m, Neeru Pathak of NCOE Trivandrum claimed gold in 54.31 seconds, with seven of eight finalists bettering the Asian junior qualification mark of 55.99 seconds — another extraordinary collective display.
Shahnavaz Khan Soars Past Sreeshankar's Long Jump Record
Shahnavaz Khan of Uttar Pradesh produced one of the biggest jumps in Indian junior athletics history, leaping 8.23 metres on his fourth attempt to claim gold in the men's long jump. His effort surpassed the previous national junior record of 8.20m set by the celebrated Murali Sreeshankar in 2018 and also eclipsed his own meet record of 7.90m. Sreeshankar went on to become India's premier long jumper and a Commonwealth Games medalist — Khan's breakthrough suggests a similarly bright trajectory.
Other Standout Performances on Day Two
Tamil Nadu's Kavinraja S cleared 5.12 metres in the men's pole vault to set a new national junior mark, improving his previous personal best of 5.11m set last year. In the men's hammer throw, Ashuvendra Pratap S (Uttar Pradesh) led with a throw of 67.87m, surpassing the Asian junior qualification mark of 65.97m.
The decathlon saw Upkar of Rajasthan dominate with an impressive 7,039 points, well above the Asian junior qualification threshold of 6,274 points. In the women's 100m hurdles, Yamini Karthikeyan (Tamil Nadu) won gold in 13.79 seconds, just outside the Asian junior qualification mark of 13.66 seconds.
Significance for Indian Junior Athletics
This day's performances represent a watershed moment for Indian junior athletics. The sheer volume of athletes meeting or approaching Asian junior qualification standards across multiple disciplines points to a deepening talent pipeline — a direct consequence of sustained investment in Athletics Federation of India (AFI) development programmes and NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) training infrastructure.
Notably, Shahnavaz Khan's surpassing of Murali Sreeshankar's 2018 record is particularly symbolic. Sreeshankar became one of India's finest long jumpers, winning silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games — setting a precedent for what junior record-breakers from this competition can achieve on the global stage. With the Asian U20 Athletics Championships on the horizon, performances at Tumkur will serve as critical selection benchmarks.
As the competition continues, all eyes will be on whether further national records fall and how many athletes secure automatic qualification for upcoming Asian and World junior championships.
Point of View
Which critics once dismissed as underfunded. What's striking is that Shahnavaz Khan has surpassed Murali Sreeshankar's 2018 benchmark — the same Sreeshankar who became a Commonwealth Games silver medalist — raising urgent questions about how quickly India can transition these prodigies into senior international contenders. The depth in the 400m, with six finalists under the Asian qualification mark, signals a generational shift in Indian sprinting that deserves far more mainstream attention than it receives. Indian athletics is quietly building something significant, and policymakers would do well to ensure the infrastructure and funding match the ambition these young athletes are displaying.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national junior records were broken on Day 2 of the 24th National Junior Athletics meet in Tumkur?
Three national junior records were broken: Nitin Gupta clocked 18:54.37 in men's 5,000m race walk, Mohammed Ashfaq ran 46.05 seconds in men's 400m, and Shahnavaz Khan jumped 8.23m in men's long jump. Ranjana Yadav also set a new national record in women's 5,000m race walk with 23:22.12.
Who is Nitin Gupta and what record did he break at Tumkur?
Nitin Gupta is an Indian Army athlete and Asian junior silver medalist in race walking. He became the first Indian junior to break the 19-minute barrier in men's 5,000m race walk, clocking 18:54.37 seconds and improving his own previous national record of 19:24.48 set in Patna.
What was Mohammed Ashfaq's 400m timing and whose record did he break?
Kerala's Mohammed Ashfaq won the men's 400m in 46.05 seconds, breaking Amoj Jacob's junior national record of 46.26 seconds set in 2017. He also surpassed the junior meet record of 46.58 seconds set by Astik Pradhan P the previous year.
Did Shahnavaz Khan break Murali Sreeshankar's long jump record?
Yes, Shahnavaz Khan of Uttar Pradesh jumped 8.23m to surpass Murali Sreeshankar's national junior record of 8.20m set in 2018. Khan achieved the gold-winning jump on his fourth attempt at the Tumkur meet.
Where is the 24th National Junior U20 Athletics Federation Competition being held?
The 24th National Junior (U20) Athletics Federation Competition is being held at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Tumkur, Karnataka. The event features Under-20 athletes competing across track, field, and race walk disciplines.
