Aarti brings in India's first medal at World U20 Athletics Championships 2024, clinches bronze in women’s 10,000m race walk

India’s medal hopes shone brightly on Friday as 17-year-old Aarti delivered a stunning performance in the women’s 10,000m race walk at the World U20 Athletics Championships 2024. The 17-year-old displayed incredible determination to cross the finish line in 44 minutes and 39.39 seconds. It not only helped her secure a place on the podium but also settle a new national record in the process.

Aarti dropped three minutes off her previous personal best timing of 47:21.04, set in March when she won gold at the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow.

Despite the intense competition, Aarti held her ground against a formidable Chinese duo. Zhuoma Baima took the gold with a world U20 leading time of 43:26.60, while Meiling Chen bagged silver with a personal best of 44:30.67 at the World U20 Athletics Championships.

This outstanding performance on the second last day of World U20 Athletics Championships brought India its first medal of the championships. India won three medals at the last World U20 Athletics Championships, and with three more finals to go, the hope is to match that number.

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World U20 Athletics Championships 2024 results for the Women's 10,000 Metres Race Walk:

1. Zhuoma Baima (CHN) - 43:26.60 - Gold Medal
2. Meiling Chen (CHN) - 44:30.67 - Silver Medal
3. Aarti (IND) - 44:39.39 - Bronze Medal
4. Alessia Cristina Pop (ROU) - 44:54.32
5. Alexandra Griffin (AUS) - 45:16.26
6. Renata Cortes (MEX) - 45:24.47
7. Michelle Cantò (ITA) - 45:38.85
8. Chloe Le Roch (FRA) - 45:52.59
9. Giulia Gabriele (ITA) - 45:54.71
10. Griselda Serret (ESP) - 45:54.98
11. Kylie Garreis (GER) - 46:33.65
12. Imen Saii (TUN) - 46:34.44
13. Mina Stanković (SRB) - 46:38.04
14. Suzuka Kuge (JPN) - 46:38.20
15. Rubi Dayana Segura Garcia (COL) - 46:48.76
16. Suzu Okuno (JPN) - 46:51.77
17. Mona Ali Hussein Mohamed (EGY) - 47:05.00
18. Alexandra Kovács (HUN) - 47:11.41
19. Chelsea Roberts (AUS) - 47:16.20
20. Tabea Kiefer (GER) - 47:25.70
21. Valeria Flores (MEX) - 47:41.65
22. Ema Klimentová (CZE) - 47:48.07
23. Hiwot Ambaw (ETH) - 48:01.86
24. Léna Auvray (FRA) - 48:48.10
25. Maysaa Boughdir (TUN) - 49:12.39
26. Lisbeth Carolina López Jayes (GUA) - 49:29.93
27. Justė Perveneckaitė (LTU) - 49:46.29
28. Tamara Indrišková (SVK) - 49:57.77
29. Yadira Orihuela Poma (PER) - 50:08.20
30. Angelica Harris (USA) - 50:16.24
31. Tülin Ek (TUR) - 50:18.66
32. Katherine Dayanna Barreto (ECU) - 51:48.01
33. Aliisa Kiiski (FIN) - 52:45.86
34. Aldara Meilán (ESP) - DNF
35. Birhan Mulu (ETH) - DNF