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Key Points

Shourya Ambure, just 15, claimed gold in the 100m hurdles at the Khelo India Youth Games in Patna. Her victory follows a bronze medal at the Asian Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia. Coached by Ajit Kulkarni, she balances ambition with maturity, avoiding unnecessary risks. With her parents being IPS officers, Shourya now targets Youth Commonwealth and Asian Games success.

Key Points: Shourya Ambure Wins Khelo India Gold After Asian Bronze Medal

  • Shourya Ambure secures 100m hurdles gold at Khelo India Youth Games
  • Won bronze at Asian Youth Championship with 13.80s PB
  • Coached by Ajit Kulkarni for 10 years
  • Eyes Youth Commonwealth and Asian Games medals
3 min read

Shourya Ambure's winning return to Patna comes with greater maturity and Asian medal

15-year-old hurdler Shourya Ambure triumphs at Khelo India Youth Games in Patna, showcasing maturity after Asian Championship success.

"I’m only 15 and have a lot of time in the U18 to break the National Youth Record – Shourya Ambure"

Patna, May 13

Shourya Ambure is just 15 but already knows a thing or two about the right amount of effort to exert in competition. In a reflection of her maturity in accepting coach Ajit Kulkarni’s recommendation of not stretching herself in the quest of a Khelo India Youth Games record, she did enough to win 100m Hurdles gold on Monday.

At the end of what has been a long season for Shourya Ambure, she scored a facile victory in the final on the opening day of Athletics competitions in Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar. She loved returning to the Patliputra Sports Complex where she had first drawn national attention by winning the crown in the National Youth Championships in March.

“At that time, my Board exams were on, and I skipped two papers to take part in the Nationals because it was a qualification event for the Asian Championship. I hadn’t done much training back then, but I believed I could do better,” she recalled of her last visit to Patna when she won gold in a time of 14.55 seconds.

Between the two signposts that she marked in Patna in the span of two months, 15-year-old Shourya made the nation proud at the Asian Youth Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where she clocked a personal best time of 13.80 seconds and won a bronze medal. She did not push herself in search of another personal best on Monday.

Making her Khelo India Youth Games debut, she recorded a time of 14.33 seconds in the heats. Having felt a tightening of the hamstring and got a massage before the final, she secured gold in 14.11 seconds, well clear of Sonali Das (West Bengal) and Vishnu Shree NS (Kerala).

“I wanted to do better but I’m happy with my performance. I clocked a decent time tonight. I’m only 15 and have a lot of time in the U18 to break the National Youth Record,” she said referring to the 13.70-second mark set by Tamil Nadu’s PM Thabitha back in 2019. “My coach, who has been guiding me for 10 years, told me to just run and enjoy the race.”

Shourya Ambure is the product of a long-term vision that coach Ajit Kulkarni and her parents Rupali and Avinash Ambure, IPS officers holding high ranks in Maharashtra Police, have shared. “I started competing in the 80m hurdles in U14 category and continued the same until under-16. I was used to running 80-meter hurdle races. This was only my fourth race in the 100m Hurdles.”

“Now, my goal is to win medals at the Youth Commonwealth Games and Youth Asian Games,” Shourya Ambure said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
What an inspiring story! At just 15, Shourya shows maturity beyond her years. Her dedication to skip board exams for Nationals shows real passion. Wishing her all the best for Commonwealth and Asian Games! 🇮🇳✨
R
Rahul M.
Great to see young athletes getting proper guidance. Coach Kulkarni's approach of not pushing too hard shows wisdom. We've lost many talents to injuries from overtraining. Hope she stays healthy and breaks that national record soon!
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Ananya S.
As someone from Patna, it's wonderful to see our sports complex producing champions! 🎉 Shourya's connection with Patna seems special - first national attention here, now Khelo India gold. Bihar needs more sporting success stories like this.
V
Vikram J.
Impressive performance, but I hope the system doesn't put too much pressure on her. We've seen young stars burn out. She's just 15 - let her enjoy the sport while developing naturally. The medals will come if she's happy and healthy.
S
Sneha P.
From 14.55s to 13.80s in two months is phenomenal progress! And that too while managing studies. Hats off to her parents for supporting her dreams despite being IPS officers with demanding jobs. True #GirlPower inspiration!
K
Karan D.
This is why programs like Khelo India are so important. Gives young athletes proper platforms to shine. Hope she gets all the facilities needed to compete internationally. Maybe next Olympics we'll see her representing India!

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