Himanshu Jakhar. | (Image Credits: X)
17-year-old Himanshu Jakhar has created history by winning a gold medal in boys’ javelin throw at the U-18 Asian Athletics Championships in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It has proved to be India’s first-ever gold medal at the continental championships as wishes were poured for him across the country.
Not much is known about Himanshu at this stage but he hails from Haryana and the teenage prodigy notably trained alongside Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra and Jan Zelezny in South Africa. Those experiences must have played a crucial role in his quest to gold. Himanshu accomplished a throw of 67.57m to win the gold ahead of China’s Lu Hao, who recorded 63.45m and Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Sadullaev, who had 61.96m.
The throw of 67.57 from the teenage prodigy was also his highest-ever as his previous best was 66.66. As far as 700gm of Javelin throw goes, his best is 74.56m, accomplished during the National Junior Athletics Championships held in December 2024.
Here all the Indian medallists from the U-18 Asian Athletics Championships
Himanshu – gold medal in boys’ javelin throw
Devak Bhushan – silver medal in boys’ high jump
Nitin Gupta – silver medal in boys’ 5000m race walk
Tannu – silver medal in girls’ 400m
Nischay – silver medal in boys’ shot put
Chiranth P, Sayed Sabeer, Saket Minj and Kadir Khan – silver medal in boys’ medley relay
Nischay – bronze medal in boys’ discus throw
Aarti – bronze medal in girls’ 100m
Aarti – bronze medal in girls’ 200m
Shourya Ambure – bronze medal in the girls’ 100m hurdles
Lakshita Mahlawat – bronze medal in girls’ discus throw
