WATCH: Nitin Gupta Loses Asian U-18 Athletics Championships Gold Due To Pre-Mature Celebration

India’s Nitin Gupta was a perfect example of the saying, ‘don’t celebrate until you win’, at the 5000m racewalking event in the Asian Under-18 Athletics Championships.

Gupta lost out on the top podium finish after he overtook China’s Zhu Ninghao momentarily and started to celebrate. As his focus moved towards the celebration, the Chinese charged towards the finish line for a photo finish.

NITIN GUPTA WINS THE SILVER MEDAL 🥈

An Pre- Early celebration by Nitin may cost his Gold Medal at Men's U18 5000m Race Walk at 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championship 🏆

A lot to learn but overall a good performance! pic.twitter.com/3pzGvq3jYI

— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) April 16, 2025

He registered a heartbreaking timing of 20:21.51s to clinch the first medal for India at the Asian Under-18 Athletics Championships 2025.

Incidentally, it was not the best performance for Gupta as he holds a personal best of 19:24.48s in the boys’ 5000m racewalking event, which was set at the National Youth Athletics Championship in Patna in March 2025. 

Thanks to the timing, he currently leads the U20 World lead in the 5,000m racewalk event.

He also holds the U-18 national record and is the first Indian U18 to manage a sub-20 timing in the 5000m racewalking.