3 weeks ago
Mohammed Ashfaq breaks U20 national record, enters 400m final
There is a young runner from India named Mohammed Ashfaq, who is 19 years old.
He went to a big worldwide race for young athletes called the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Ashfaq ran the 400-meter race very fast, finishing his first race in 45.81 seconds.
That was the fastest any Indian his age has ever run the distance, beating his own old record.
Because he ran so well, he qualified for the final race.
Other Indian athletes also competed at the championships.
A discus thrower named Amanat Kamboj finished sixth in the world with her best-ever throw.
Some other Indian runners and jumpers did not make it to their finals.
Even so, it was a very exciting day for Indian athletics.
Mohammed Ashfaq broke his own U20 national 400m record with 45.81 seconds in the heats in Eugene.
He qualified for the men's 400m final by finishing third in his semifinal in 46.00 seconds.
Basant advanced to the men's high jump final with 2.14m, while K. Ambriesh missed out with 2.05m.
Amanat Kamboj finished sixth in the women's discus throw final with a personal best of 53.24m.
Other Indians — Piyush Raj, Tanu Chaudhary, Amit Kumar, Anshu, Dhanush Raj and P. Royshan — failed to advance from their events.
- Who
- Mohammed Ashfaq, a 19-year-old Indian sprinter, and other Indian athletes competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
- What
- Ashfaq broke the Indian U20 national record in the men's 400m (45.81s in the heats) and qualified for the final; other Indian athletes competed across several events.
- Where
- Eugene, the host city of the championships.
- When
- During the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026.
- Why
- Ashfaq ran to qualify for the men's 400m final and lower his national record, while other Indian athletes competed to advance in their respective events.
Key facts
- Athlete
- Mohammed Ashfaq (India, 19 years old)
- Event
- Men's 400m, World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, Eugene
- Heats time
- 45.81 seconds (new U20 national record)
- Previous record
- 46.05 seconds, set at U20 Federation Cup, Bengaluru, in April
- Semifinal time
- 46.00 seconds, third place (qualified for final)
- Men's high jump
- Basant advanced with 2.14m; K. Ambriesh out with 2.05m
- Women's discus throw
- Amanat Kamboj sixth with personal best 53.24m
- Women's shot put
- Anshu missed final with 15.24m, 21cm short of the mark
Sources
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