Maharashtra’s 17-year-old hurdler Yash Mulik broke India’s U-18 national record in the men’s 110m hurdles after clocking a remarkable 13.40 seconds at the 21st National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana on September 3. Competing at Guru Nanak Stadium, Mulik won gold and bettered the previous national record of 13.47 seconds. Uttar Pradesh’s Anshu Yadav finished second in 13.54 seconds, while Tamil Nadu’s Kripal Karthic K finished third in 13.71 seconds.
Mulik’s performance also earned him the Best Male Athlete award of the championships. The result is an important milestone for the young Maharashtra athlete and adds to the growing pool of promising junior track-and-field talent in India.
A Young Hurdler Rising
Mulik’s record-breaking performance is the latest step in a progression that has already seen him compete successfully at junior level. Born on August 25, 2009, he represented Maharashtra at the U-16 level and won the boys’ 80m hurdles at the 2024 West Zone Junior Athletics Championships in Nagpur with a time of 11.14 seconds.
By 2025, Mulik had moved into the U-18 category and was competing in the more demanding 110m hurdles. At the National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in October 2025, he recorded 14.46 seconds in his heat. His subsequent improvement to 13.40 seconds at the 2026 Youth Nationals represents a significant progression in performance over the course of his transition into the higher age category.
Yash’s Record Run In Ludhiana
The record came on the final day of the three-day National Youth Athletics Championships, organised at Guru Nanak Stadium from September 1 to 3. The championships brought together U-18 athletes from across India across sprints, hurdles, middle-distance events, jumps, throws, combined events and relays.
In the men’s 110m hurdles final, Mulik crossed the line in 13.40 seconds, finishing ahead of Anshu Yadav and Kripal Karthic K. According to the Athletics Federation of India, the performance was recognised as both a national record and national meet record, with Mulik scoring 1,177 points under the World Athletics Scoring Tables 2025.
Competition Showed Depth
Yash’s record was part of a particularly strong final day in Ludhiana, where several national and meet records were broken. Maharashtra’s Manas Shinde set a meet record in the men’s 200m with 21.51 seconds, while Madhya Pradesh’s Krishan Chandra produced a meet-record 79.92m in the men’s javelin throw. In the women’s events, Karnataka’s Nupura Holla set a meet record of 13.78 seconds in the 100m hurdles.
The wider results also showed how competitive the junior field has become. Haryana topped the overall medal tally with four gold, seven silver and three bronze medals, while Maharashtra finished second with eight medals, including three gold. Mulik’s performance therefore came within a championship that showcased strong performances across several disciplines rather than in isolation.
From Record To Future
For Mulik, the 13.40-second run establishes a new benchmark in Indian U-18 men’s 110m hurdles, but the bigger challenge will be maintaining that progress as he moves towards senior athletics. The transition requires athletes to adapt to stronger competition, increased physical demands and the technical consistency needed to perform at higher levels.
A national youth record cannot predict a senior career, but it can mark an important point in an athlete’s development. Mulik’s rise from U-16 competition to the U-18 national record shows the value of sustained opportunities for young athletes to compete, improve and measure themselves against their peers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Yash Mulik’s achievement deserves recognition not simply as a record in a results sheet, but as a reminder of the young sporting talent developing across India. Behind a 13.40-second race are years of training, coaching, family support and access to competitive opportunities.
At the same time, young athletes should not be defined solely by records set in their teenage years. The more important responsibility is to create an environment where promising competitors receive sustained coaching, proper facilities, education and opportunities to develop without unnecessary pressure.
As India looks towards building a stronger athletics culture, how can we ensure that young talents like Mulik receive the support they need to turn early success into lasting sporting careers?
Read More: Tamil Nadu’s 17-Year-Old J Santosh With 90% Disability Secures IIT Madras BS Admission
