The men’s 20km race walk, one of the 49 events at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, was dominated by Caio Bonfim of Brazil, Toshikazu Yamanishi of Japan, and China’s Wang Zhaozhao among the top contenders who set a brisk pace. But the Indian participant Servin Sebastian also made his mark by maintaining a steady rhythm, positioning himself within the mid-pack as the race unfolded. Sebastian, representing India alongside a 19-member contingent, faced a formidable field that included world record holder Toshikazu Yamanishi, remained consistent, though he struggled to match the blistering speed of the front-runners.
Indian race walker Servin Sebastian concluded his debut at the World Athletics Championships 2025 with a 31st-place finish
in the men’s 20km race walk on Saturday, September 21. Competing among 47 starters at the Japan National Stadium, the 25-year-old clocked a time of 1:23:45, marking a respectable performance in a highly competitive field. The event, held under humid conditions with temperatures reportedly hovering around 30°C, saw Brazil’s Caio Bonfim claim the gold medal, as reported by World Athletics. Sebastian, who earlier this year secured a bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, with a personal best of 1:21:13.60, entered the Tokyo Championships with high expectations.
Servin Sebastian won gold medals in 2025 season in Uttarakhand National Games and Indian Open in Chandigarh
Despite the setback, Servin Sebastian’s 2025 season showcased his potential, with gold medals at the Uttarakhand National Games (1:21:23) and the Indian Open in Chandigarh (1:21:47). “Every race is a learning experience,” Sebastian reportedly said post-race. He further added, “The field here was incredibly tough, and the conditions made it even harder. I’m proud to have represented India and finished the race. My focus now is to keep improving and aim for a better result at the next major championship.”
The men’s 20km race walk highlighted the global depth of talent in the discipline. Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, who had been a consistent performer on the international circuit, celebrated his first World Championships gold, a testament to his strategic pacing and technical precision.
India’s campaign at Tokyo 2025 has been a mix of highs and lows. The 19-member squad, headlined by reigning world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, has faced challenges, with Chopra finishing eighth in his event and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel and steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary yet to secure medals. However, high jumper Sarvesh Kushare made history by becoming the first Indian to qualify for the final in his event. Sebastian’s race walk performance, while not a podium finish, adds to India’s presence on the global stage, where the nation has historically secured only three medals at the World Championships: Anju Bobby George’s long jump bronze in 2003, and Neeraj Chopra’s javelin silver in 2022 and gold in 2023.
