Jubail, Saudi Arabia: The Asia Triathlon Junior, U23 and Mixed Relay Championships 2024 in Jubail presented a key qualifying platform for upcoming major multisport events, with Indian athletes delivering a mixed set of performances across categories.
The Junior contingent emerged as the highlight for India, showcasing promising talent and competitive spirit against a strong Asian field. In the Junior Men’s race, Roshan Gond led the Indian charge with a 25th-place finish, clocking 1:04:40, followed by Sarungbam Athouba Meitei in 31st position at 1:07:49. Yajat Aiyappa Kandanda Praveen unfortunately did not finish the race.
In the Junior Women’s category, India produced an encouraging performance with Keerthi Sakthivel securing 15th place in 1:15:41, closely followed by Heny Zalavadiya in 16th position with a time of 1:16:55. Dolly Devidas Patil was lapped and could not complete the race.
However, the U23 squad struggled to meet expectations, with none of the athletes able to complete their races. In the U23 Men’s category, Raj Kumar Pawar, Parth Mirage, and Mohammed Roshan Kunnatheeri were all lapped out. A similar outcome was seen in the U23 Women’s field, where Mansi Mohite, Aadhya Singh, and Devika Sarma were also lapped.
While the results underline the emerging strength at the junior level, they also highlight areas of concern in the transition to the U23 category. The championship serves as both a learning experience and a benchmark as Indian triathletes continue their preparation for future international competitions.