Gujarat's Rahul Jakhar wins Asian U20 decathlon gold, sets national record
Gandhinagar/Valsad, May 30 Eighteen-year-old Rahul Jakhar from Gujarat's Valsad district has won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, setting a new Indian Under-20 national record and becoming one of the continent's leading young athletes in the discipline.
Jakhar amassed 7,185 points across the two-day, 10-event competition to secure the title, surpassing the previous national U20 mark in the gruelling combined event.
His victory marks a significant achievement for Indian athletics, with the young athlete emerging as the top decathlete in Asia in the under-20 category.
The teenager, who hails from Charvada village in Valsad district, comes from a family originally from Rajasthan's Sikar district that later settled in Vapi, where they entered the construction business.
His rise to continental success has been built on years of training and progression through Gujarat's sports development system.
Speaking by telephone from Hong Kong after his victory, Jakhar said: "I am grateful to all my coaches who supported me throughout my journey. The Gujarat government has provided excellent facilities and opportunities for athletes. My dream now is to represent India at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, and I will continue working hard to prepare for those competitions."
According to his coach, Shivam Upadhyay, the decathlon is regarded as one of athletics' most demanding events, requiring competitors to perform across ten disciplines: the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 metres, 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500 metres.
"Rahul delivered a record-breaking performance by scoring 7,185 points and winning the gold medal. He is now the national record holder in the Under-20 category," Upadhyay said.
Jakhar currently trains at the Sports Authority of Gujarat's High-Performance Centre in Nadiad, where he receives specialised coaching and sports science support.
After beginning his athletics journey under coach Vipul Chaudhary at the District Level Sports School in Gadh of Banaskantha district, he was selected in 2024 for advanced training at the Nadiad centre.
There, under coaches Shivam Upadhyay, Dharmendra Parmar and Satesh Upadhyay, Jakhar developed into one of India's most promising combined-events athletes.
His introduction to athletics came unexpectedly a few years ago during an evening walk with his father in Vapi.
After seeing athletes training at a local ground and learning about competitive sport, he began running there the following day.
A gold medal in the long jump at Khel Mahakumbh soon followed, setting him on a path that has now led to an Asian title.
Congratulating the athlete, Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi said: "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has created a robust sports ecosystem and world-class infrastructure to support athletes. We are committed to providing every possible opportunity for our young sportspersons to excel at national and international levels, and Rahul's achievement is a reflection of these efforts."
Sanghavi added that preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are helping drive the creation of world-class sporting infrastructure in the state that will benefit future generations of athletes.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Incredible achievement! But I can't help wondering—how many more Rahul Jakhars are out there in rural India who never get discovered because they don't have access to a local sports ground or a coach? We need to replicate this model across every district. The government talks about sports infrastructure, but the real test is reaching the villages in Bihar, UP, and Rajasthan too. Still, very happy for Rahul and his family. All the best for the Olympics!
As a former athlete myself, I know how tough the decathlon is. Ten events over two days—it's mentally and physically brutal. Rahul scoring 7,185 points is phenomenal for an under-20 athlete. The fact that he came from a construction family background and now trains at the Nadiad High-Performance Centre shows the value of dedicated sports academies. Hope he gets proper nutrition and recovery support to stay injury-free. The Olympics are calling! 🥇
Amazing story! As someone from the US, it's inspiring to see young athletes from smaller towns achieving at the continental level. The way Rahul's family moved from Rajasthan to Gujarat and built a life there—that's the kind of resilience that produces champions. I hope he gets international exposure now, maybe training camps abroad. The decathlon field is super competitive, but 7,185 points at 18 is world-class potential. Go India!
Great news! But I have to say—the timing of this article seems convenient for the Gujarat government's PR ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The Deputy CM is already using it to talk about infrastructure. Yes, it's great that facilities exist, but let's not make this only about politics. The real hero is Rahul and his coaches. Also, can we stop calling every achievement a "reflection of government efforts"? The athlete's hard work is primary. Still, jai ho baahr. 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.