Indian Race Walker Servin Sebasthiyan Places 31st at World Athletics Championships Tokyo

Summary – Servin Sebasthiyan finishes 31st in the men’s 20km race walk at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, marking India’s continued presence in global race walking events.,

Article –

Servin Sebasthiyan, the lone Indian athlete in the men’s 20km race walk at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo on September 21, 2025, secured the 31st position. This event featured 60 top race walkers from across the globe, including former World and Olympic champions, on a demanding course designed to minimize the impact of Tokyo’s afternoon heat.

Race Overview

The race commenced early in the morning and was fiercely competitive. Sebasthiyan maintained a consistent pace but could not match the leading walkers who set a very fast tempo throughout the event. Japan’s Kento Yamazaki won the gold medal with a championship record time of 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 23 seconds.

Sebasthiyan crossed the finish line with a time of 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 56 seconds, aligning with his seasonal performance averages and demonstrating steady progress at the international level.

Key Figures and Officials

• Athlete: Servin Sebasthiyan
• Coach: Anil Prasad, specialized race walking coach
• Officiated by: World Athletics Race Walking Technical Committee

The officiating committee ensured all race walking rules were followed, including proper foot contact and straightened knee regulations.

Key Numbers

1. Number of competitors: 60
2. Sebasthiyan’s finishing time: 1:24:56
3. Gold medal time: 1:17:23 (Kento Yamazaki, Japan)
4. Silver medal time: 1:17:45 (Matej Fajdetič, Slovakia)
5. Bronze medal time: 1:18:10 (Luca Rinaldi, Italy)
6. Sebasthiyan’s season best: 1:24:30

Post-Race Reactions

Servin Sebasthiyan shared, “I am proud to represent India on this grand stage, although I aimed for a higher finish. The competition was intense, and conditions were challenging. This experience will motivate me as I prepare for upcoming events.”

Coach Anil Prasad commented, “Servin showed great determination. We will analyze this performance and work on improving his stamina and speed to compete strongly in future championships.”

The Indian Athletics Federation highlighted Sebasthiyan’s participation as crucial exposure and reiterated their commitment to supporting endurance athletes.

Looking Ahead

The World Athletics Championships continue with other major events like sprinting and marathon races. Servin Sebasthiyan now looks forward to the Asian Athletics Championships in early 2026, aiming to boost his continental ranking and improve his performance.

Stay tuned to SPACE SPORTS for more updates and insights from the world of athletics.

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Bhavya

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