Asian Athletics
As the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championships rolled into its second day in the coastal city of Dammam, the energy was electric. Against the striking backdrop of Prince Nayef Sports City, over 400 young athletes from 31 nations continued to chase their dreams on the track and in the field. Hosted for the first time in Saudi Arabia, the event not only reflects the Kingdom’s growing presence on the global sports stage but also serves as a powerful symbol of regional unity, youth empowerment, and sporting excellence.
Spectators were treated to a full slate of finals, with every performance steeped in emotion, talent, and the unrelenting spirit of competition. Day 2 proved why this championship is considered a breeding ground for Asia’s next generation of champions. Below is a snapshot of the most exciting results and moments from another action-packed day of athletics:
________________________________________Boys' 5000m Race Walk
Under the afternoon sun, the endurance warriors of Asia took on the grueling 5000m walk. A well-timed final lap surge made the difference as the gold medallist crossed the line ahead of a tightly packed lead group.
🏆 Gold: — Zhu Ninghao (CHN) - 20:21.50🥈 Silver: — Nitin Gupta (IND) - 20:21.51
🥉 Bronze: — Lo, Sheng Qin (TPE) - 21:37.88
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Girls' Long Jump
Precision, pace, and power defined the long jump runway. The winning leap came in the final round, securing a dramatic gold in one of the most closely contested events of the day.
🏆 Gold: — Liang Morong (CHN) - 6.26 meters🥈 Silver: — Chee En-ya Chloe (SGP) - 5.77 meters
🥉 Bronze: — Seo Yeji (KOR) - 5.66 meters
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Boys' Pole Vault
The bar kept rising—and so did the stakes. There was a tough fight at 4.30 meters, but only one emerged victorious
🏆 Gold: — Khalel Bin Zaid (SGP)🥈 Silver: — Abdulla Saad J S Al-abdulla (QAT)
🥉 Bronze: — Shkerdin Dmitriy (KAZ)
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Boys' Discus Throw
Raw strength and refined technique came together as the discus final saw a series of personal bests. The gold medallist secured victory with a monster throw on his fifth attempt.
🏆 Gold: — Han Qigeng (CHN) - 63.33 meters🥈 Silver: — Wan Zhixuan (CHN) - 63.01 meters
🥉 Bronze: — Nishchay (IND) - 58.85 meters
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Girls' 400m
A breathtaking lap of speed and strategy saw the winner power through the final 100m, holding off a strong charge from her rivals to capture gold in under 58 seconds.
🏆 Gold: — Imamine Saki (JPN) -57.27 seconds🥈 Silver: — Tannu (IND) - 57.63 seconds
🥉 Bronze: — Deng Nanxi (CHN) - 58.01 seconds
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Girls' 2000m Steeplechase
Barriers and water jumps were no match for the determined field in this dramatic race. A thrilling final lap sealed the podium in style.
🏆 Gold: — Sadafbonu Nusratilloeva (UZB) - 6:44.99🥈 Silver: — Nasimakhon Mamirova (UZB) - 6:55.20
🥉 Bronze: — Fu Wen (CHN) - 7:09.11
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Boys’ 2000m Steeplechase
A test of grit, rhythm, and coordination, the boys' 2000m steeplechase turned into one of the most strategic races of the day. A patient approach over the early laps gave way to a bold and fearless final sprint through the barriers and water jump.
🏆 Gold: — Hashem Ahmed Hakeem (KSA) - 6:06.06🥈 Silver: — Shokhjakhon Khayrullaev (UZB) - 6:14.31
🥉 Bronze: — Li Guanxi (CHN) - 6:14.33
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Boys' 100m
Always the headline act—the 100m final did not disappoint. It came down to a photo finish.
🏆 Gold: — Shimizu Sorato (JPN) - 10.38 seconds🥈 Silver: — Dai Hongyu (CHN) - 10.39 seconds
🥉 Bronze: — Koo Cheuk Fung Jasper (HKG) - 10.40 seconds
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Girls' 100m
The fastest young women in Asia lit up the track, making it one of the most watched events of the evening. Explosive starts, lightning pace, and a finish line dash that separated milliseconds.
🏆 Gold: — Zhang Qian (CHN) - 11.80 seconds🥈 Silver: — Liyanage Dhananjana Sewmini Fernando (SRI) - 11.92 seconds
🥉 Bronze: — Aarti (IND) - 11.93 seconds
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Boys' 1500m
This tactical battle tested both speed and strategy. After a patient opening, a powerful final 100 meters saw the leader break away to victory.
🏆 Gold: — Mubarak Abdi Said (QAT) - 3:57.90🥈 Silver: — Mahmoud Abou Zeid (LBN) - 3:58.76
🥉 Bronze: — Gallage Don Lahiru Achintha (SRI) - 3:59.47
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Boys' 400m
Blending rhythm and acceleration, the one-lap sprint delivered a photo-worthy finish as the athletes surged down the home stretch.
🏆 Gold: — Li Yongjie (CHN) - 48.11 seconds🥈 Silver: — Samir Moussa Hassan (QAT) - 48.22 seconds
🥉 Bronze: — Haroun Saleh A Ahmat (QAT) - 48.30 seconds
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Girls' Heptathlon
Seven events, one champion. The heptathlon wrapped up with a final flourish in the 800m, and the overall winner proved to be a true all-rounder, excelling across sprints, jumps, and throws.
🏆 Gold: — Kuzubova Polina (KAZ)🥈 Silver: — Sofya Nikolaeva (UZB)
🥉 Bronze: — Kydyrbay Assylzat (KAZ)
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With two thrilling days still to come, the championship is far from over. The spirit of youth athletics is alive and thriving in Saudi Arabia—where every finish line is a new beginning.
