Beant Singh, Kisan Tadvi clinch gold at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships

Beant Singh(behind) clocked a time of 1:52:26

India won a gold each in the boys 800m and 3000m event at the Asia Youth Athletics Championships with youngsters Beant Singh and Kisan Narshi Tadvi securing the numero uno spot in the respective categories.

Beant registered a comfortable win, clocking a time of 1:52:26 and expressed satisfaction after the victory. He also added that he was inspired by two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar.

“I was feeling really good for this race and I have been preparing really well for this competition, so to win is a great satisfaction.

"I have only been in athletics for a short time, two or three years. I was a wrestler before and I was picked for a national team camp by Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar. It was at this moment that I noticed I had a talent for middle distance running and I was encouraged to switch to athletics. Sushil remains a very big inspiration for me,” he said.

Last year, Beant won a silver at the National Open Athletics Championships, which was his first senior medal in 800m. He had clocked a time of 1:51:08 then, thereby creating a new national record in the youth category.

Want to beat the national record at the World Youth Championships: Beant

Talking about his upcoming challenges, he said that he was looking forward to competing at the IAAF Youth World Championships in Cali.

“Next stop for me is the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali. I have set big expectations. I want to beat the Indian national record there. I know I can run under 1:50. I have done it in training and I aim to run it at the championships," he concluded.