WUG 2025: India's Ankita Claims Silver With Blistering Personal Best In 3000m Steeplechase
Ankita Dhyani won silver in the women's 3000m steeplechase at the World University Games with a personal-best time of 9:31.99. India's tally: 2 golds, 4 silvers, 3 bronzes.
India's Ankita delivered a sensational performance in the women's 3000m steeplechase to clinch silver at the World University Games on Sunday, clocking a personal-best time of 9:31.99. The 23-year-old social sciences student produced a gutsy run in a highly competitive final, shaving nearly seven seconds off her previous best of 9:39.00.
Ankita narrowly missed out on the gold, finishing just 0.13 seconds behind Finland's Ilona Maaria Mononen, who won the race with a time of 9:31.86. Germany's Adia Budde secured the bronze medal in 9:33.34.
Ankita had signaled her strong form earlier in the competition, winning Heat 1 on Friday in 9:54.79—an impressive 22-second improvement over her previous performances. Her efforts have now added to India's growing medal tally, which stands at two golds, four silvers, and three bronzes at the event.
Indian Women's 4x400m Relay Team Posts Season Best, Misses Podium
The Indian women's 4x400m relay team delivered their season-best performance on Sunday, finishing in 3:35.08. However, despite the strong showing from the quartet of Anakha Bijukumar, Devyaniba Zala, Rashdeep Kaur, and Rupal, the team placed fifth in a highly competitive final.
Germany claimed gold with a time of 3:29.68, overcoming a poor reaction time to surge ahead of the field.
India, traditionally strong in relay events, will have more opportunities to add to their medal haul in the upcoming men's 4x400m and 4x100m, as well as the women's 4x100m relay finals.
Disappointing Results in Race Walk Events
India's race walkers endured a challenging day, with no top-10 finishes in either the men's or women's 20km events. Although a few athletes recorded personal or season-best times, they were unable to contend for medals.
In the men's 20km race walk, Rahul recorded a season-best 1:26:34 but finished 20th. Italy's Andrea Cosi dominated the field, winning gold in a World University Games record time of 1:19:48.
Gaurav Kumar (1:28:44) placed 25th, Sachin Singh Bohra (1:32:03) was 28th, and Sanjay Kumar finished last among 31 competitors with a time of 1:46:21.
On the women's side, Sejal Anil Singh posted a personal best of 1:35:21 to secure 15th place. Australia's Elizabeth McMillen won gold in a record-setting time of 1:28:18. India's other finishers included Mansi Negi (20th, 1:41:12), Shalini (23rd, 1:48:07), and Mahima Choudhary (25th, 1:55:49), who placed last among the finishers.
(with PTI inputs)
view comments
First Published:
July 27, 2025, 18:10 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
'We have played enough cricket...': Shubman Gill takes a dig at The Oval pitch curator after Gambhir saga
'We have played enough cricket...': Shubman Gill takes a dig at The Oval pitch curator after Gambhir saga New Delhi: India captain Shubman Gill expressed deep displeasure at Surrey chief curator Lee Fortis, who did not allow the Indian team to closely inspect the Oval pitch. Fortis instructed the players to stay at least 2.5 meters away from the main pitch, which also surprised the coaching staff. Even though the coaching staff was wearing only jogger shoes, which do not damage the pitch, they were still not allowed to inspect it. Indecent Behaviour with Coaching Staff and Gambhir's Reaction India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that Fortis spoke rudely to a member of the Indian support staff when he placed a cooling box near the pitch. This angered head coach Gautam Gambhir, who got into an argument with Fortis. In a video, Gambhir is heard angrily telling Fortis: 'You can't tell us what to do' and 'You're just the groundsman, nothing beyond,' which triggered sharp reactions on social media. Shubman Gill Supported Gambhir Shubman Gill, in a press conference on Wednesday, said he had never seen anyone being asked to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch before. He added, 'As long as you are wearing rubber spikes or are barefoot, you can go near the pitch. No curator told us this while playing four matches here.' He also stated that inspecting the pitch is standard procedure for players. Sitanshu Kotak Defended Coach Gambhir Batting coach Kotak clarified that the controversy began when Fortis shouted at a support staff member. Kotak said, 'Gambhir just said not to talk to the support staff like this. At the end of the day, it is a cricket pitch, not an antique that cannot be touched.' He criticized Fortis' overly protective attitude. Ben Stokes Kept Distance from the Controversy England captain Ben Stokes, who is not playing in the final Test due to a shoulder injury, distanced himself from the issue. He said, 'I wasn't here, so I don't know what happened. Although, it's hard not to see these things.' Tensions Had Already Escalated Earlier This controversy comes at a time when the series is already in a tense phase. England leads 2-1 in the five-match series, with the final Test starting Thursday. Earlier, the Indian camp had objected to the time-wasting tactics of England openers during the Lord's Test. The fourth Test also ended in controversy when Jadeja and Sundar declined an early draw offer in pursuit of personal milestones.
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Gambhir warned India fans 'won't be patient' if side loses series vs England: 'They're expect to win every time'
As India gear up for a must-win clash at The Oval in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir finds himself under increasing scrutiny. With England leading the five-match series 2-1, a loss in the final Test would not only hand India their third successive Test series defeat but also cast serious doubts over Gambhir's long-term future at the helm. India head coach Gautam Gambhir looks on during practice (Action Images via Reuters) Former England captain Michael Atherton didn't mince words when assessing the pressure on the Indian setup. Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, Atherton said, 'Well, they've lost two series in a row. They lost at home to New Zealand 3-0, and they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1. If they lose this series, then yeah, he's under pressure as a coach.' For a team with India's resources and cricketing depth, patience often runs thin. The stakes are not just about salvaging a series but about meeting sky-high expectations that come with the job. 'India, with all their resources, their population strength, they're not a team that people are patient with. They're expected to win every time they walk onto the park. So three Test series defeats in a row would be a problem for him,' Atherton added. Gambhir's tenure Gambhir, who took over the reins in what many saw as a bold, results-driven appointment, had a see-saw tenure with India, achieving successes in white-ball cricket but failing to make a mark in Tests. Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, the side won the Champions Trophy earlier this year but also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1. Before that, India faced a whitewash at home against New Zealand. Adding to the inconsistency on the field is the off-field friction that erupted on the eve of the Oval Test. Tensions flared between Gambhir and Kennington Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis, reportedly over denied access to inspect the pitch from close quarters. The altercation has only added fuel to an already simmering contest, with India desperate to level the series and England aiming to close it out in style.
Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
LIVE Cricket Score, India vs England 5th Test Updates: Shubman Gill's IND will take on Ollie Pope's ENG in London
India (IND) vs England (ENG) 5th Test LIVE Cricket Score Updates: Shubman Gill's India will take on Ollie Pope's England in the fifth Test match on Thursday at the Kennington Oval in London. Coming into the high-octane game, India has a chance to level the series and get away with a draw. The reason for that was the heroic efforts Indian batters had displayed on the final day at Manchester when England had the game in their hand but could not go through the resilient partnership of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who both managed to score their tons to help India register a famous draw. In addition to the performance in the game, England for the final Test will also miss the services of skipper Ben Stokes. Ollie Pope will be leading the side, but filling the role of Ben Stokes, who has played his role as both batter and bowler, will be an uphill task. India, on the other hand, also has a few selection decisions to make. With Karun Nair expected to come back in place of Shardul Thakur, the batting certainly has more depth. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss out, and who will replace him is to be seen. On Tuesday, it was the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir versus the curator at The Oval. On Wednesday, when England named their playing XI, missing from the list was Ben Stokes. (AP Photo) The India-England Test series has been a strange and captivating affair, with its quality a subject of debate. On one hand, many consider it a thrilling classic akin to the 2005 Ashes, pointing to the dramatic conclusion at Lord's, India's improbable draw in Manchester, England's stunning chase in Leeds, and India's victory without Jasprit Bumrah. These moments are held up as proof of the series' greatness. (Read more from Sandeep Dwivedi)
