Kajal Vaja wins silver at Asian U-20 Athletics, sets national relay record
Synopsis
A farm labourer's daughter from coastal Junagadh just rewrote India's national U-20 relay record on a continental stage. Kajal Vaja's silver at the Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong — clocked at 45.05 seconds — is not just a personal triumph; it is a marker of how Gujarat's grassroots sports pipeline is producing athletes capable of competing at the highest junior levels.
Key Takeaways
Kajal Vaja , 19, from Chorwad village, Junagadh , won silver in the women's 4x100m relay at the 22nd Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong .
The Indian quartet clocked 45.05 seconds , breaking the previous national U-20 record of 45.08 seconds .
In March 2025 , Kajal set a national record in the 60m sprint at 7.50 seconds at the First Indoor Open Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar .
She also holds a silver from the South Asian Senior Athletics Championships 2025 in Ranchi in the same relay event.
Kajal trained through SAG , DLSS Kodinar , and currently trains at the High-Performance Centre, Nadiad .
Gujarat's Rahul Jakhar won decathlon gold at the same championship, also setting a national record.
Sprinter Kajal Vaja, a 19-year-old from Chorwad village in Junagadh district, Gujarat, claimed a silver medal as part of India's women's 4x100m relay team at the 22nd Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on Sunday. The Indian quartet clocked 45.05 seconds, bettering the previous national U-20 record of 45.08 seconds and placing India on the continental podium.
The Record-Breaking Run
Kajal ran alongside teammates Bhavna (Tamil Nadu), Arti (Haryana), and Nipam (Uttar Pradesh) to deliver a performance that combined individual speed with precise baton exchanges. Their combined effort of 45.05 seconds not only secured silver but rewrote the national U-20 relay benchmark. The result underlines India's growing depth in women's sprinting at the junior level.
From a Farm Labourer's Home to the Continental Stage
Kajal's background makes the achievement particularly striking. Her father, Hirabhai Vaja, works as a farm labourer in coastal Chorwad. Despite financial constraints, Kajal chose to take a drop year in Class 12 to concentrate on training — a calculated sacrifice that paid off on the Hong Kong track. Her uncle, Manthan Dabhi, recalls that 'Kajal showed a passion for sports from her school days and consistently excelled in competitions.'
Her coach, Shivam Upadhyay, describes her as 'one of the most promising young sprinters in the country,' adding: 'Her discipline, confidence, and competitive mindset set her apart. She approaches every training session with complete dedication and always strives to improve her performance.'
A Record-Laden Resume
The Hong Kong silver is the latest entry in an already notable career. Earlier in 2025, Kajal won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the South Asian Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi. In March 2025, she struck gold at the First Indoor Open Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, setting a national record in the 60m sprint with a timing of 7.50 seconds. She also holds the national U-20 record in the 60m event.
The System Behind the Sprinter
Kajal's development followed a structured pathway through Gujarat's sports infrastructure. She was first identified through the School Programme of the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG), then joined the District Level Sports School (DLSS) in Kodinar in 2019. Recognising her potential, selectors moved her to the High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Nadiad in 2023, where she continues to receive advanced coaching and support.
Government Response and Gujarat's Sporting Moment
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi congratulated Kajal and the relay team, stating: 'Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, we are committed to providing every facility required for our sportspersons to achieve their global dreams. Kajal's achievement is a proud moment for Gujarat and the nation.' Kajal's medal follows closely on Rahul Jakhar's decathlon gold at the same championship, where he also set a new national record — making it a landmark outing for Gujarat at the continental meet. With two national-record performances from the state at a single championship, Kajal's trajectory points firmly toward senior international competition.
Point of View
For once, worked as it should — identifying talent early, providing structured pathways, and delivering a world-stage result. Gujarat's SAG-to-DLSS-to-HPC pipeline is not glamorous, but it is producing athletes. The real question is whether this infrastructure can scale and retain talent once athletes age out of junior programmes and face the far thinner support available at the senior level. Two national-record performances from one state at a single continental championship is a signal worth taking seriously.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kajal Vaja and what did she win?
Kajal Vaja is a 19-year-old sprinter from Chorwad village in Junagadh district, Gujarat. She won a silver medal as part of India's women's 4x100m relay team at the 22nd Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with the team clocking a national record of 45.05 seconds.
What national record did India's relay team set at the Asian U-20 Championships?
India's women's 4x100m relay team clocked 45.05 seconds, bettering the previous national U-20 record of 45.08 seconds. The team comprised Kajal Vaja (Gujarat), Bhavna (Tamil Nadu), Arti (Haryana), and Nipam (Uttar Pradesh).
What other records does Kajal Vaja hold?
Kajal holds the national U-20 record in the 60m event and set a national record of 7.50 seconds in the 60m sprint at the First Indoor Open Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in March 2025. She also won silver in the 4x100m relay at the South Asian Senior Athletics Championships 2025 in Ranchi.
How did Kajal Vaja develop as an athlete?
Kajal was first spotted through the School Programme of the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG). She joined the District Level Sports School (DLSS) in Kodinar in 2019 and was selected for the High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Nadiad in 2023, where she continues to train.
What was Gujarat's overall performance at the 22nd Asian U-20 Athletics Championships?
Gujarat athletes delivered two standout performances at the championship. Kajal Vaja was part of India's silver-medal relay team that set a national record, while Rahul Jakhar won the decathlon gold medal, also setting a new national record.
