With an impressive accomplishment, the Indian men’s 4x400m relay team charged into the final at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
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In Budapest, the Indian team with Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal, and Rajesh Ramesh finished second in the heats, taking 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 5 seconds. This made a new Asian record for the Indian men’s 4x400m relay team, getting them into the final on Saturday. Japan held the old Asian record of 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 51 seconds, set at the world championships in Oregon last year.
Source: Hindustan Times
In the initial heat comprising nine teams, the Indian team secured the second position, following behind the USA who finished first with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, and 47 seconds. The selection criteria for the final involved the top three finishers from each of the two heats, along with two additional teams holding the fastest times.
Here is a closer look at the Indian 4x400m relay squad that shattered the Asian record at the World Athletics Championships
Source: The Indian Express
Who is Rajesh Ramesh:
The youngest member of the Indian 4x400m team, Rajesh Ramesh, was born in Tamil Nadu in 1999, and his story is truly inspiring. After taking part in the U20 World Championships in 2018, his progress was halted by injuries and the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, Ramesh found work as a ticket checker at the Trichy railway station, a position offered by Railways, the same organization he represented back then.
Source: Sports Crazy
Who is Muhammed Ajmal:
Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, born in Palakkad, Kerala, in 1998, embarked on his journey as a football player and even represented his state in the U19 category. Following the advice of his coaches, Ajmal switched to 100m sprinting before eventually focusing on 400m sprinting. His presence on the cusp of achieving international recognition has been marked by his impressive performances in various national competitions.
During the Indian Championships held in Bhubaneshwar in June 2023, Ajmal achieved a noteworthy feat by completing the 400m sprint in just 45.51 seconds, securing the gold medal and narrowly missing the opportunity to surpass Anas’ national record of 45.24 seconds. In interviews, Ajmal has revealed that his primary current goal is to surpass the existing 400m national record.
Source: The Economic Times
Who is Muhammed Anas:
Muhammed Anas Yahiya was born in 1994 in Nilamel, Kerala. He started as a long jump athlete but switched to 400m running while in school. In 2016, he became only the third Indian to go to the Olympics for the 400m event, following Milkha Singh and KM Binu. He holds the fastest time for the 400m in India, finishing in 45.24 seconds in 2019. Anas has won four gold medals and three silver medals in various competitions, both as an individual and as part of a team. He aims to win a medal at the World Athletics Championship final on Sunday.
Source: On Manorama
Who is Amoj Jacob:
Hailing from Delhi and born in 1998, PA Amoj Jacob has a focus on excelling in the 400m and 800m track events. His achievements began to shine in 2016 when he secured a pair of medals at the Asian Junior Championships. Among these was a silver in the 4x400m relay team event and a gold in the individual 800m event. At the age of just 19, in 2017, Jacob was selected to represent India at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneshwar. During this significant event, he played a crucial role in the 4x400m relay alongside Anas, contributing to India’s first gold medal win in the event since 1975.
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