Paris 2024 Olympics: What is Muhammed Anas' personal best in men's 4x400m relay?
Muhammed Anas will represent India in the men's 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He will enter the tournament as one of the most experienced Indian athletes, as it will be his third successive Olympics appearance.
Anas' personal best performance was recorded at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023. Along with Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh, he finished with a timing of 2:59.05 to finish second in his heat to qualify for the final event, where he ended up in the fifth position.
Interestingly, the 29-year-old holds the national as well as Asian record for this performance.
Meanwhile, Anas holds the national record in the 400m as well, with a timing of 45.21 seconds, achieved at the 2019 Czech Athletics Championships in Kladno.
Muhammed Anas broke the national record for the 400m at the Polish Athletics Championships in June 2016, clocking 45.40 seconds. Surprisingly, the qualification mark was exactly the same.
He became only the third Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympics in the 400 meters, following Milkha Singh (1956 and 1960) and K. M. Binu (2004). Anas finished sixth at the Rio Games, clocking 45.95.
Anas gained recognition when he secured a gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay and silvers in the 400 m and men's 4x400m relay events at the 2018 Asian Games.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Muhammad Anas had a ninth-place finish in the men's 4×400m relay event. However, with a time of 3:00.25, they set an Asian record. He also finished 15th in the mixed relay event.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Anas finished sixth with a time of 3:05.51 in the men's relay event.
Riding in good form throughout 2023, Anas, along with Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh, secured gold in the men's 4×400m relay event with a timing of 3:01.58 in the final of the 19th Asian Games. Moreover, he finished with a bronze in the 400m event with a timing of 46.29.
How has 2024 been so far for Muhammed Anas?
The talented athlete has had a terrific 2024 so far ahead of the Paris Olympics. He started the year by winning a silver medal at the National Open 400m Competition in Trivandrum.
Muhammed Anas followed up by winning golds in the men's 4×400m and mixed 4x400m relay at the 1st National Open Relay Carnival in Chandigarh.
Interestingly, Anas and the men's 4x400m relay team earned qualification for the Paris Olympics after finishing second at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas with a timing of 3:03.23.
Anas secured gold in the 400m event and mixed 4x400m relay events at the National Interstate Senior Athletics Championships.
It will be interesting to see if Muhammed Anas can continue in the same vein and help India secure a gold medal.