Who is Muhammed Anas Yahiya? All you need to know about the three-time Olympian sprinter
Muhammed Anas, born on September 17, 1994, is an Indian sprinter who competes in the 400 meters category. He took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics, competing in both the individual 400 meters and the 4x400 meter relay.
Anas set a national record in the 400 meters at the 2019 Czech Athletics Championships with a time of 45.24 seconds. He later won a gold medal in the men's 4x400 meter relay at the 2022 Asian Games. Anas also represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
When Muhammed Anas joined a local sports club in Kerala, his mentor felt he was better suited to take up the long jump as his pet event. He went on to emerge as a long jump champion at his school. However, his coaches in his higher secondary school suggested he take up sprinting, which is his passion.
Early stages of Muhammed Anas' career
Subsequently, he went on to clinch medals at the district and state level. He secured a gold medal in the 400m race at the Junior National Championships in 2012 and hogged the spotlight.
Later, Muhammed Anas clinched multiple medals for Calicut University. At the National Games in 2015, he was part of the Kerala team that won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay race. He was quick to get a call from the Indian Navy, offering him a Seaman rank in the Navy.
Creating National Records and Olympics debut
After a few more heroics at the Indian Grand Prix and the Federation Cup, Muhammed Anas took part at the Polish Athletics Championships in 2016, creating a new national record of 45.44 seconds in the 400m race. He qualified for the Rio Olympics with a 45.40 seconds effort in the final. However, he bowed out of the Rio Olympics from the qualification heats.
Later at the Asian Games in 2018, he propelled the Indian mixed relay team to a gold medal win. He bagged a silver medal in his individual 400m race event. At the Commonwealth Games in 2018, he emerged as the first Indian athlete since Milkha Singh to secure a 400m bronze medal at the CWG.
Since then, Muhammed Anas has broken national record twice and the current record stands at 45.21 seconds, created in 2019. Later in 2019, he was conferred with the Arjuna Award by the Indian Government.
Second Olympic appearance
He qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with the 4x400m mixed relay team after making it to the finals of the Doha World Championships in 2019.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the Indian men’s 4x400m men’s relay team of Muhammed Anas, Noah Nirmal Tom, Arokia Rajiv, and Amoj Jacob achieved the then-Asian record of 3:00.25 seconds. However, the team failed to make it to the finals.
Asian Games 2023
At the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, Muhammed Anas was part of the men’s 4x400m relay team that secured the gold medal along with his teammates Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal, and Rajesh Ramesh.
Later at the World Championships in 2023, the Indian men's 4x400m relay team broke the Asian record, clocking 2:59.05 seconds.
Paris Olympics 2024 qualification
Indian men’s 4x400m relay team comprising Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Arokia Rajiv, and Amoj Jacob secured their Paris Olympics 2024 quota at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas in May 2024
They clocked a season’s best time of 3:03.23 seconds to clinch the second spot behind the USA (2:59.95) in the second heat to secure their berth for the Paris Olympics 2024.
The Indian men's 4x400m relay squad delivered their best performance of the season, clocking 3:00.58 in their heat at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite a strong effort in the second heat at Stade de France, featuring formidable opponents like Belgium, France, and Nigeria, India's team comprising Anas, Rajesh Ramesh, Amoj Jacob, and Muhammed Ajmal narrowly missed advancing.
They finished just 0.32 seconds behind Italy's qualifying mark of 3:00.26, ending their Olympic campaign with a commendable effort.