Shourya Ambure has etched her name in Indian sporting history by becoming the first athlete from the country to secure a track medal at the Youth Olympics. The 17-year-old from Maharashtra claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the ongoing games in Dakar, Senegal, finishing the race in 13.59 seconds.
Ambure’s performance in the final was a testament to her progress, as she shaved 0.18 seconds off her previous personal best, which she had established during the semi-finals at the same event. Her achievement also saw her set a new under-18 national record, solidifying her status as a standout talent on the junior circuit. The race was won by China’s Zhang Keyi, who took the gold with a personal best of 13.17 seconds, while France’s Anna Peeters secured the silver medal with a time of 13.57 seconds.
Reflecting on her journey, Ambure noted the immense effort required to reach the podium. “I actually tore my ACL in December 2025, so it’s been very very difficult to get out of my rehab. I’m really proud of myself that I could come here at the Youth Olympics and even medal,” she said. The athlete revealed that the pursuit of this accolade had been her primary focus for several years, adding, “I’ve been dreaming about this since 2022. For four years, I’ve been working for this medal. I’m so, so happy.”
The road to the podium in Dakar was far from straightforward. Following a surgery for her ACL injury earlier this year, Ambure underwent an intensive rehabilitation process to return to competitive form. She successfully marked her comeback at the Youth Nationals, where she topped her qualification round with a time of 14.01 seconds, signaling her readiness for the international stage.
In the final event, Ambure began from lane six. Maintaining a strong start, she remained in contention throughout the race before Zhang moved ahead for the gold and Peeters managed to edge out the Indian athlete for the silver position. Her success marks India’s fifth medal in athletics history at the Youth Olympics, following previous podium finishes by athletes in the 400m hurdles, discus throw, 5km race walk, and triple jump.
Overall, the Indian contingent has secured eight medals at the current Youth Olympics in Dakar. While the country is ranked 43rd in the medal tally due to the absence of a gold medal, it holds a strong position at fifth place based on the total medal count. Alongside Ambure’s achievement, the nation has seen historic success in swimming, with Dhinidhu Desinghu and Tirthank Pegu contributing three medals in that discipline.
As Ambure continues her development in the sport, her performance in Senegal is viewed as a significant milestone for Indian track and field. Her ability to overcome a major injury to compete at an elite level highlights both her resilience and the growing depth of talent within India’s junior athletic programs.
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