Indian contingent had a disappointing start as the race walkers Sandeep Kumar and Priyanka Goswami finished at 23rd and 24th places in the men’s and women’s sections of 35km race walking event on the opening day of competitions at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday in Tokyo.
Another Indian in the men’s 35km race walk, Ram Baboo was disqualified after he received his fourth red card at the 24km mark. In race walking, penalties are issued for violating the fundamental race walking rules, such as losing contact with the ground or having a bent supporting leg. Baboo, who had finished 27th in Budapest World Championships two years ago, is the current national record holder with a time of 2 hour 29 minute and 56 seconds.
He was one of the six walkers disqualified for the same infringement after 50 athletes began the early morning race. Out of the 50 competitors, 34 completed the race while 10 more — other than those disqualified — did not finish (DNF).
The 39-year-old Sandeep, who had qualified for the showpiece at the last minute, clocked 2 hours 39 minutes and 15 seconds to finish the race at 23rd. He could not breach his personal and season’s best of 2:35:06 under hot and humid conditions. National record holder Priyanka clocked 3 hours 05 minutes 58 seconds to finish 24th in the 46-woman field. One athlete was disqualified after getting her fourth red card while seven more other competitors could not finish (DNF) the race.
In the women’s 1500m race, Pooja finished a disappointing 11th in heat number two, clocking 4 minute 13.75 seconds, in a 14-athlete field. She has a personal best of 4:09.52. She will also compete in 800m scheduled for September 18.
Indian results on Day 1
Day 1 – September 13
- Men’s 35km Race Walk Final – Sandeep Kumar (Finished 23rd with timing of 2:39.15), Ram Baboo (Disqualified)
- Women’s 35km Race Walk Final – Priyanka Goswami (Finished 24th with timing of 3:05.58)
- Women’s 1500m Heats – Pooja (Finished 11th in Heat 2 with timing of 4.13.75 seconds)
Indians in action on Day 2 of World Athletics Championships 2025
Day 2 – September 14
- 15:10 IST – Men’s High Jump Qualification – Sarvesh Kushare
- 18:00 IST – Men’s 10,000m Final – Gulveer Singh
Indian Schedule at World Athletics Championships 2025
Day 3 – September 15
Story continues below this ad
- 05:45 IST – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats – Parul Chaudhary, Ankita
- 16:10 IST – Men’s Long Jump Qualification – Murali Sreeshankar
- 16:50 IST – Men’s 110m Hurdles Heats – Tejas Shirse
Day 4 – September 16
- 17:05 IST – Men’s High Jump Final (If qualified)
- 17:10 IST – Men’s 110m Hurdles Semi-Finals (If qualified)
- 18:35 IST – Women’s 1500m Final (If qualified)
- 18:50 IST – Men’s 110m Hurdles Final (If qualified)
Day 5 – September 17
- 15:35 IST – Men’s Triple Jump Qualification – Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker
- 15:40 IST – Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification (Group A) – Sachin Yadav, Neeraj Chopra, Yashvir Singh, Rohit Yadav
- 16:45 IST – Men’s 200m Heats – Animesh Kujur
- 17:15 IST – Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification (Group B)
- 17:20 IST – Men’s Long Jump Final (If qualified)
- 18:27 IST – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Final (If qualified)
Day 6 – September 18
- 15:53 IST – Men’s Javelin Throw Final (If qualified)
- 16:25 IST – Women’s 800m Heats – Pooja
- 17:32 IST – Men’s 200m Semi-Final (If qualified)
Day 7 – September 19
Story continues below this ad
- 16:00 IST – Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification – Annu Rani
- 16:35 IST – Men’s 5000m Heats – Gulveer Singh
- 17:15 IST – Women’s 800m Semi-Final (If qualified)
- 17:20 IST – Men’s Triple Jump Final (If qualified)
- 18:36 IST – Men’s 200m Final (If qualified)
Day 8 – September 20
- 06:20 IST – Men’s 20km Race Walk Final – Servin Sebastian
- 17:35 IST – Women’s Javelin Throw Final (If qualified)
Day 9 – September 21
- 16:05 IST – Women’s 800m Final (If qualified)
- 16:20 IST – Men’s 5000m Final (If qualified)
Indian Squad at World Athletics Championships 2025
India has 15 men athletes and four women athletes participating at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Men’s Team: Animesh Kujur (200m), Gulveer Singh (5,000m &10,000m), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (high jump), Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple jump), Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav (Javelin throw), Servin Sebastian (20km race walk), Ram Baboo and Sandeep Kumar (35km race walk).
Story continues below this ad
Women’s Team: Pooja (800m/1500m), Parul Chaudhary, Ankita (3000m steeplechase), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Priyanka (35km race walk).
Where to Watch the World Athletics Championships 2025?
The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will be broadcasted by Star Sports Network in India. The event will have dedicated TV coverage for both morning and evening sessions with Star Sports 1 broadcasting the morning session from 4:00 AM to 9:00 AM IST and Star Sports Select 2 broadcasting the evening session from 2:00 PM IST.
The both sessions of the World Athletics Championships will also be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
