Navi Mumbai: Athletes Aditya Pisal and Rudra Shinde, hailing from Navi Mumbai, have been selected to represent India at the upcoming Junior Asian Athletics Championship. The event is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from May 28 to 31.
Selection Based on National Championship Performance
The duo earned their places in the national squad through outstanding performances at the recently concluded 24th National Junior (Under-20) Athletics Championship-2026, held in Bengaluru. Both athletes will compete in the 4x100-metre relay race at the Asian Championship. Additionally, Rudra Shinde will participate in the 200-metre sprint event.
State Representation and Achievements
Both athletes represented Maharashtra at the National Junior (Under-20) Athletics Championship. Shinde secured a bronze medal in the 200-metre race, clocking a personal best time of 21.26 seconds and setting a new state record in the under-20 category. He also finished sixth in the 100-metre sprint with a time of 10.59 seconds. Pisal improved his performance by completing the 100-metre sprint in 10.51 seconds, narrowly missing out on a medal.
Domestic Records and Training
Both athletes have impressive records in the domestic circuit, which have propelled them to prove their mettle at higher-level competitions. They are currently undergoing training at Agnel Gymkhana in Vashi. Their coach, Srinivas Gupta, expressed pride in their selection, stating, "Both athletes performed well at the junior nationals, which catapulted them to participate in the Asian Championship later this month. While Shinde has the opportunity to compete in two events—the 4x100-metre relay and the 200-metre sprint—Pisal has qualified for the 4x100-metre relay race. It is a great honour to have their names in Team India. I hope both will have a gala time at the Hong Kong event, as they are undergoing vigorous training at the Agnel facility in preparation for the international meet."
