World Athletics U20 Championship: India's Amit Khatri wins historic silver in 10,000m race walk, misses out on gold due to water break

This is for the first time India has won a medal in race walking. However, Amit could have bagged a gold medal but missed out on it due to a water break.

Amit Khatri (Source: Twitter)

Indian athlete Amit Khatri on Saturday (August 21) won the silver medal in the 10,000m race walking event at the ongoing World Athletics U20 Championship in Nairobi.

Amit clocked 42 minutes 17.94 seconds to achieve the feat while Heristone Wanyonyi of Kenya clinched the gold after recording a time of 42.10.84.

Notably, this is for the first time India has won a medal in race walking and two medals in a single edition of the Championships.

"Amit Kumar wins silver in 10000m Race Walk with a time of 42:17.94 at the #WorldAthleticsU20 in Nairobi. This is the 1st time India has won a medal in Race Walking and 2 medals in a single edition of the Championships. Many congratulations Champ!" SAIMedia tweeted.

's Amit wins in 10000m Race Walk with a time of 42:17.94 at the #WorldAthleticsU20 in Nairobi

This is the 1st time India has won a medal in Race Walking and 2 medals in a single edition of the Championships

Many congratulations Champ!#Athletics #IndianSports pic.twitter.com/YJeXduaE5x

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 21, 2021

Reportedly, Amit could have bagged a gold medal but missed out on it due to a water break.

The Indian was leading towards the ending laps of the race but fell to the second spot following a water break before the final lap.

Interestingly Amit was leading the race with around 2 laps to go. But he then took water break which costed him few seconds and he finished 2nd. — India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) August 21, 2021

As Amit drifted from the path to take the drink, Wanyonyi sprinted forward and accelerated immediately, going way past the Indian to take a strong lead in the race.

Spain's Paul McGrath finished third, clocking 42.26.11 minutes.

It is worth mentioning that this was India's second medal in the showpiece event having already won bronze in the 4x400m mixed relay team event on Wednesday.

The Indian quartet which consisted of Bharat Sridhar, Priya Mohan, Summy and Kapil finished third behind Nigeria and Poland with a timing of 3:20.60 seconds. The Indians bettered their heats time in the final. Notably, this was also the mixed event's debut at the U20 Worlds.

Meanwhile, National U20 record holder Shaili Singh was one of three women long jumper who secured automatic qualification, set at 6.35m, for the final when she leapt 6.40m on her third attempt on Friday.

She would have made the grade on the strength of her opening leap of 6.34m but chose to strain every sinew on her final attempt to gain the psychological edge going into Sunday's final.