Siddharth Choudhary, a young Indian shot putter, ignited the opening day of the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship in Chennai with a record-breaking performance. Choudhary unleashed a powerful throw of 19.19 meters, shattering the previous meet record of 18.53m and securing the gold medal. His teammate, Anurag Singh Kaler, followed closely behind, claiming silver with a throw of 18.91m.
This isn’t the first time Choudhary has made waves on the international stage. In June 2023, he clinched gold at the Asian U-20 Athletics Championship in Korea. However, his journey to success hasn’t been without its challenges. At the World Athletics U-20 Championships 2024, he finished 16th in the qualification round, a result that left him disappointed but motivated. Reflecting on his performance, Choudhary acknowledged his mistakes and said, “The problem was with the warm-up. We warmed up earlier than we should have. I didn’t have much experience, and that was the challenge.”
Despite the setback, Choudhary quickly learned from his experience and is determined to grow from it. “I’m an athlete; it’s part and parcel of our lives. We don’t do well sometimes, we get injured, but then we come back stronger. I’ve identified the reasons for my performance in the U-20 World Championships, and I’m working on improving,” he said.
Choudhary’s maturity belies his young age. “Here, mental stress is very less. In India or at the U-20 World Championships, there is no mental stress for me. I got to know the reasons why I didn’t perform well there (U-20 Worlds), and I will work on them and improve my game,” he stated. He also noted that the conditions in Chennai were ideal for his performance, with a favorable circle and warm weather.
Looking ahead, Choudhary is focused on the Junior Nationals, where he aims to peak again. He is also excited about the transition to senior competition, knowing that the challenges will increase as the weight of the shot put rises. However, he remains confident in his abilities: “If you’re doing well at the junior level, you’ll do the same at the senior level.”
Choudhary finds inspiration in some of the world’s top shot putters, including Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser, whom he admires for his technical skills and work ethic. Among Indian athletes, Tajinderpal Singh Toor is his favorite, and he also respects the achievements of discus thrower Shakti Singh.
With his sights set on the Junior Nationals, Choudhary’s journey is one to watch. As he continues to rise through the ranks, he is poised to make a significant impact in the world of athletics.
