News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: A 43-member Indian team is participating in the World Athletics U20 Championship. State Sports Academy athletes Dev Meena (Pole Vault) and Ekta De (3000m Steeplechase) will represent India in the World U20 Junior Championship. Both athletes have departed for Peru to participate in the World Championship. The academy’s Pole Vault coach, Ghanshyam Yadav, was also selected as a coach by the Athletics Federation of India and has left for Peru.
Hon. Sports Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang encouraged both athletes to perform well and extended his best wishes.
Details and achievements of the athletes are as follows:
Dev Meena – Dev Meena’s father is a farmer. He hails from the village of Silfodkheda, Jiagaon, in Dewas. Dev joined the State Sports Academy in 2022 and is currently a boarding athlete at the academy.
Sports Achievements: Dev Meena set a record at the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 by clearing 5.05 meters in the Pole Vault event. He won a gold medal and set a new national record at the Goa National Games 2023, which earned him eligibility for the World Championship in Lima, Peru. Recently, from April 24 to 27, 2024, he won a bronze medal in the Pole Vault event at the 21st Asian Junior Athletics Championship held in Dubai.
Ekta De – Ekta De is a resident of Bhopal. She joined the Sports Academy in 2017 and is currently a boarding athlete at the academy.
Sports Achievements: Ekta De won a gold medal in the 3000m Steeplechase event at the 21st Asian Junior Athletics Championship held in Dubai from April 24 to 27, 2024. Additionally, she won a silver medal in the 2000m Steeplechase event at the Youth Asian Athletics Championship held in Kuwait in 2022.