New Delhi

A 43-member Indian team will compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru from August 28 to 31. The squad includes 23 men and 20 women, with India also participating in the 4x400m mixed relay, according to source.

Key athlete Dipanshu Sharma, the reigning Asian U20 javelin champion, is expected to shine. India won seven medals at the Asian Championships in Dubai earlier this year. Gold medalists from that event—Anurag Singh Kaler (shot put), Ranvir Singh (3000m steeplechase), Harshit Kumar (hammer throw), Pavana Nagaraj (long jump), Ekta Dey (3000m steeplechase), and the women’s 4x400m relay team will be representing India in Peru.

Bapi Hansda, who missed the Asian U20 Championships due to dengue, will compete in the 4x400m relay and the 400m events.

In the 2022 U20 World Championships in Cali, India won two silver medals (Selva Thirumaran in triple jump and mixed 4x400m relay) and one bronze (Rupal Chaudhary in 400m). The USA led the medal tally with 15 medals seven gold, four silver, and four bronze.

Notably, Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medalist and current world champion in javelin, was the first Indian to win a U20 title in 2016. Hima Das also secured a gold in the 400m race at the 2018 Tampere Championships.