Who is Kiran Pahal? All you need to know about India's second-fastest 400m athlete competing at Paris Olympics 2024
Kiran Pahal is an Indian sprinter who competes over 100m, 200m, and 400m distances but specializes in the lap event. She is the second fastest Indian athlete in the 400m distance and is a part of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Pahal's journey to the Olympics started in the Ganaur village of the Sonepat district of Haryana. Born in a poor family, her father Om Prakash worked as a munshi and has played a pivotal role in shaping her career. Prakash was the sole breadwinner of the family until his passing in 2022, which made Pahal's journey incredibly tough. The 24-year-old’s mother, Maya Devi, is a homemaker.
Following her father's death, Pahal has struggled for financial support. What makes matters worse for her is the lack of sponsors. But help and a pep talk from national record holder Huma Devi kept her going and she went on to book a berth at the Olympics,
Kirah Pahal, who is coached by Aakash Chikara, is a four-time national champion. She won the individual 400m title at the 2022 and 2024 Inter-State Championships, clocking an impressive 52.57s. Pahal was also part of 4x400m relay national title-winning teams in 2019 and 2021.
The Indian athlete has a personal best of 12.31s over the 100m distance while she has run a lifetime best time of 24.58s over the 200m distance. In her premier event, 400m, she holds a personal best of 50.92s and is currently ranked 196 in the World Athletics rankings. She has achieved a best rank of 139 in her career over the quarter mile event.
How did Kiran Pahal qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024?
Kiran Pahal qualified in the 400m event for the Paris Olympics 2024 after breaching the qualifying mark of 50.95s at the Inter-State Championships. She ran a blistering 50.92s in the semi-finals to become eligible for selection. Her time also made her the second-fastest Indian 400m runner.
The 2024 Inter-State Championships marked Kiran Pahal's first event in almost a year after battling with injuries and financial struggles. After qualifying for the Olympics, she won the 400m finals a day later, clocking a similar time of 50.92s.
Following the victory, Pahal was included in the TOPS core group, putting an end to her financial struggles.