Aarti brings in India's first medal at World U20 Athletics Championships 2024, clinches bronze in women’s 10,000m race walk

India’s medal hopes shone brightly on Friday as 17-year-old Aarti delivered a stunning performance in the women’s 10,000m race walk at the World U20 Athletics Championships 2024. The 17-year-old displayed incredible determination to cross the finish line in 44 minutes and 39.39 seconds. It not only helped her secure a place on the podium but also settle a new national record in the process.

Aarti dropped three minutes off her previous personal best timing of 47:21.04, set in March when she won gold at the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow.

Despite the intense competition, Aarti held her ground against a formidable Chinese duo. Zhuoma Baima took the gold with a world U20 leading time of 43:26.60, while Meiling Chen bagged silver with a personal best of 44:30.67 at the World U20 Athletics Championships.

This outstanding performance on the second last day of World U20 Athletics Championships brought India its first medal of the championships. India won three medals at the last World U20 Athletics Championships, and with three more finals to go, the hope is to match that number.

World U20 Athletics Championships 2024 results for the Women's 10,000 Metres Race Walk:

Zhuoma Baima (CHN) - 43:26.60 - Gold Medal
Meiling Chen (CHN) - 44:30.67 - Silver Medal
Aarti (IND) - 44:39.39 - Bronze Medal
Alessia Cristina Pop (ROU) - 44:54.32
Alexandra Griffin (AUS) - 45:16.26
Renata Cortes (MEX) - 45:24.47
Michelle Cantò (ITA) - 45:38.85
Chloe Le Roch (FRA) - 45:52.59
Giulia Gabriele (ITA) - 45:54.71
Griselda Serret (ESP) - 45:54.98
Kylie Garreis (GER) - 46:33.65
Imen Saii (TUN) - 46:34.44
Mina Stanković (SRB) - 46:38.04
Suzuka Kuge (JPN) - 46:38.20
Rubi Dayana Segura Garcia (COL) - 46:48.76
Suzu Okuno (JPN) - 46:51.77
Mona Ali Hussein Mohamed (EGY) - 47:05.00
Alexandra Kovács (HUN) - 47:11.41
Chelsea Roberts (AUS) - 47:16.20
Tabea Kiefer (GER) - 47:25.70
Valeria Flores (MEX) - 47:41.65
Ema Klimentová (CZE) - 47:48.07
Hiwot Ambaw (ETH) - 48:01.86
Léna Auvray (FRA) - 48:48.10
Maysaa Boughdir (TUN) - 49:12.39
Lisbeth Carolina López Jayes (GUA) - 49:29.93
Justė Perveneckaitė (LTU) - 49:46.29
Tamara Indrišková (SVK) - 49:57.77
Yadira Orihuela Poma (PER) - 50:08.20
Angelica Harris (USA) - 50:16.24
Tülin Ek (TUR) - 50:18.66
Katherine Dayanna Barreto (ECU) - 51:48.01
Aliisa Kiiski (FIN) - 52:45.86
Aldara Meilán (ESP) - DNF
Birhan Mulu (ETH) - DNF

About the author

Triyasha is an Indian Sports journalist at Sportskeeda who has a work experience of around 3 years. A M.Sc. degree holder in Mathematics from University of Calcutta, she has previously worked at The Bridge, InsideSport, and Sportslight Media.

Triyasha believes in going directly at the source of information, communicating with people at the grassroots level to ensure her content is ethical and most accurate. A bookworm and a painter in her spare time, she reckons her ability to build human relationships helps her stand out from other journalists.

Triyasha has covered tournaments such as the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, Durand Cup, Thomas Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, and Indian Premier League (IPL) in her career so far. She grew up in a household obsessed with football and considers Sunil Chhetri as her all-time favorite Indian Sports athlete because of the footballer's unmatched work ethic and unparalleled passion.

India's 4-1 group-stage victory against Thailand in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup is one of her most favorite memories.

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Edited by Ankush Das