Mumbai: 15-year-old Shourya Ambure is the only athlete from Maharashtra to win a medal at the Asian Youth Athletics Championship 2025. She won a bronze medal in the 100-meter hurdles event, completing the race in 13.80 seconds and registering her personal best performance. After this achievement, she secured 4th place in the world rankings in the 100-meter hurdles event in the under-18 girls’ category. The competition was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from April 15 to April 18, with participation from 30 Asian countries.
The Indian squad comprised 36 athletes, including Maharashtra’s Shourya Ambure and Anchal Patil (high jump, from Navi Mumbai), who were selected for the championship. Shourya, who won Maharashtra’s only medal at the Asian Games, is being widely praised in the sports world. In Shourya’s event, China’s Bao Yinyin (13.71 seconds) won the gold medal, and He Yihui (13.76 seconds) won silver.
Shourya’s success is even more commendable as she was simultaneously preparing for her 10th board examinations. She is a student at Universal High School, Thane, and has been training under senior sports coach Ajit Kulkarni at his ‘Aim Sports Foundation’ for the several years. Coach Kulkarni has produced many world-class athletes, and currently, several students are training under his guidance in Thane.
When Shourya was nine years old, she joined Ajit Kulkarni’s academy in Vasant Vihar, Thane, where she lives as well. Coach Kulkarni shared, “We took a risk. She is just 15 years old, but the association allowed her to compete in the National Youth Championship, where she won a medal and was selected for the Asian Youth Athletics Championship. When Shourya joined my academy, I noticed her agility and energy. The hurdles event is difficult and risky; it requires a high level of concentration, strong technical skills, and great focus. Shourya has been a calm and energetic girl since childhood, which I observed early on, so I decided to pursue her training in this event. She has competed in only three 100-meter hurdle races so far because under-16 athletes generally compete in the 80-meter hurdles.”
Kulkarni has been running the academy for the past 25 years. Notable athletes like cricketers Prithvi Shaw and Prashant Solanki, and footballer Aman Sethi, have also undergone fitness training at his academy.
Shourya Ambure Speaks To The Free Press Journal
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Shourya said, “Initially, I went to Kulkarni Sir’s academy for fitness training. Then, I started professional training for under-14 competitions. Since I was 15, I have played in the under-16 hurdles event, which involves 80-meter hurdles with shorter distances between hurdles. When I started training for the 100-meter hurdles, it was a bit challenging. Initially, I lacked speed endurance, but with practice, I improved. This medal has boosted my confidence, and I feel I am on the right path. I want to keep giving my best.”
Shourya’s parents are both Deputy Commissioners of Police. Her father, Avinash Ambure, is posted at the Mira Bhayandar Crime Branch, and her mother, Rupali Ambure, serves as DCP for the Nashik Highway. Her mother expressed, “Catch them young! If parents and teachers can spot talent early and support children to pursue their passion, it can create wonders. Parents’ role is to help children explore and find their passion, not to impose their wishes. Ultimately, discipline, consistency, and commitment bring glory undoubtedly.” Notably, Shourya’s father was a state-level badminton player.
While appearing for her 10th standard ICSE board exams, Shourya skipped the History and Geography papers to participate in the competition. However, the Indian Council of Secondary Education allowed her to reappear for those papers later. For practice, Shourya and her team travel four days a week to Bandra, Ghatkopar, and Pune (Balewadi), where synthetic tracks are available — facilities not currently available in Thane. Considering her young age, Shourya’s achievements are remarkable, and she is now regarded as a promising athlete in Indian athletics.
