Kajal Vaja Helps India Clinch Silver and Rewrite National U-20 Relay Record

Gujarat’s emerging sprint talent Kajal Vaja has once again demonstrated how determination, discipline, and hard work can take an athlete from humble beginnings to success on the international stage. The 19-year-old runner from Chorwad village in Junagadh district played a key role in India’s silver medal-winning performance in the women’s 4x100-metre relay at the 22nd Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships held in Hong Kong on Sunday. Representing India alongside Bhavana from Tamil Nadu, Aarti from Haryana, and Nipam from Uttar Pradesh, Kajal helped the Indian quartet secure the silver medal with an impressive timing of 45.05 seconds. In the process, the team rewrote the national Under-20 record, surpassing the previous mark of 45.08 seconds. The relay team showcased remarkable speed, teamwork, and baton exchanges on the continental stage. Kajal’s achievement is particularly inspiring considering her modest background. Her father, Hirabhai Vaja, works as a farm labourer in the coastal village of Chorwad in Junagadh district. Despite financial challenges, Kajal remained focused on her athletic ambitions and made significant sacrifices to pursue her sporting career. Determined to give her best on the track, she took a gap year during Class 12 to concentrate on training and competition preparation. Her commitment has now yielded impressive results at the international level. Her coach, Shivam Upadhyaye, credited the achievement to Kajal’s unwavering dedication and desire to excel. “Kajal is among the most talented young sprinters in the country. She has represented Gujarat and won several medals in the 100m, 200m, and relay events. Her discipline, confidence, and competitive mindset set her apart. She approaches every training session with complete commitment and is always striving to improve her performance,” he said. The silver medal in Hong Kong adds to an already impressive list of accomplishments. Earlier, Kajal won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the South Asian Senior Athletics Championships 2025 in Ranchi. She also holds the national Under-20 record in the 60-metre event. In March this year, Kajal claimed a gold medal at the inaugural Indoor Open Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where she set a national record in the 60-metre sprint with a timing of 7.50 seconds, further strengthening her reputation as one of India’s brightest sprinting prospects. Her sporting journey began through the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) school programme. She later joined the District Level Sports School (DLSS) in Kodinar in 2019, where her talent was systematically nurtured and developed. Recognising her potential, she was selected in 2023 for the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Nadiad, where she continues to receive advanced training and support. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi congratulated Kajal and the Indian relay team for their outstanding achievement at the championship.