Samardeep breaks meet record to win gold in South Asian Athletics Championship 2025
Rising shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill broke the meet record, winning gold as host India and Sri Lanka shared the spoils on the opening day of the South Asian Athletics Federation Senior Championships here on Friday.
India swept the men’s and women’s 5000m gold, but the Sri Lankans won both the men’s and women’s 100m dash at the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Samardeep, India’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony earlier in the day, delivered a throw of 19.59m, breaking the previous record of 17.71m, set by S. Kumar Singh in 2008.
Ravi Kumar, also of India, finished second with 17.95m while Sri Lanka’s Mithunraj took bronze.
In women’s shot put, India’s Dinesh V missed out on the gold, settling for silver with a best throw of 16.14m, five centimetres behind Sri Lanka’s Ashmika Keshan.
In the men’s 5000m race, India’s Prince Kumar clocked 14:22.17 seconds to secure gold. Currently serving as a constable with Uttar Pradesh Police, Prince showcased remarkable endurance to outpace Sri Lanka’s Vakshan Vicknaraj, who claimed silver with a timing of 14:23.21 seconds.
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India continued its dominance in women’s 5000m, with Sanjana Singh clinching the gold, followed by compatriot Seema, marking a one-two finish for the home country in the event.
Yodasinghege Chamo of Sri Lanka became the fastest man of the meet, winning gold with a time of 10.30 seconds, while India’s Pranav Gurav and Harsh Raut were second and third with 10.32 seconds and 10.42 seconds, respectively.
The title of fastest woman of the meet went to Mohammad Yamick of Sri Lanka with a time of 11.53 seconds. Compatriot Dewa Thanuji Amasha was second with 11.72 seconds in Sri Lanka’s one-two finish.
India’s Sudeshna Shivankar took the bronze, clocking 11.78 seconds.
More than 200 athletes from six South Asian nations — India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives — are competing for top honours in 37 events over the next three days.
Published on Oct 24, 2025