The Uphill Battle: Indian Race Walkers’ Struggles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships

Summary – Indian race walkers faced tough competition at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, finishing outside the top 20 in the 35km race walking events, highlighting challenges and opportunities ahead.,

Article –

The 2025 World Athletics Championships, conducted in Tokyo, presented a challenging arena for Indian race walkers in the 35-kilometer events. India’s primary contenders, Sandeep Kumar and Priyanka Goswami, finished 23rd and 24th respectively, reflecting the intense competition and demanding conditions faced on this global stage.

Setting the Stage

The Championships symbolize the highest level of track and field competition, attracting the world’s elite athletes. Tokyo’s climate, marked by high humidity and temperature, imposed additional physical stress, requiring exceptional endurance and tactical acumen. India participated with three athletes in the 35km race walk, aiming to capitalize on recent national progress and enhance international standing.

The Turning Point

The men’s race was highly competitive, featuring top walkers from countries with rich race walking traditions such as Japan, Spain, and China. Kumar maintained a steady pace early on but slowed towards the end due to fatigue, culminating in a 23rd place finish. This underscored the physical demands and disparities in resources compared to more established competitors.

Similarly, Goswami, despite strong technique and determination, could not keep up with the leading pack’s pace, ending 24th. Tactical elements like energy management and race strategy were crucial amid the harsh conditions.

Tactical and Technical Breakdown

Race walking is governed by strict rules requiring continuous ground contact and a straightened leading leg, making technique vital. Both Indian athletes displayed solid technical proficiency, avoiding disqualifications and demonstrating quality training. However, tactical execution — especially pacing, hydration, and nutrition over long durations — revealed areas needing improvement to match athletes from countries with well-established programs.

Reactions from the Sport

The Indian Athletics Federation highlighted the developmental value of this experience and emphasized the need for enhanced international exposure and sports science support. The athletes acknowledged the tough competition and expressed commitment to use these lessons for future progress. Globally, traditional powers confirmed their dominance, but emerging nations showed promise, underscoring the evolving nature of race walking.

What Comes Next?

The results from Tokyo offer a critical benchmark for Indian race walking, providing a foundation for growth despite not reaching podium positions. Recommendations to accelerate progress include:

• Increased investment in altitude training
• Enhanced nutrition and biomechanics programs
• Focused mental conditioning
• International training partnerships and expert coaching

Additionally, growing grassroots interest in endurance sports within India could foster talent identification and sustainable development.

The road ahead for Indian race walkers involves turning experience into elite performance, marked by perseverance, strategic planning, and continued ambition.

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Mitali

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