NEW DELHI: India's middle-distance runner Mohammed Afsal scripted history on Friday by breaking the long-standing men's 800m national record at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. The 29-year-old clocked an impressive 1:45.61s to surpass the previous record of 1:45.65s set by Jinson Johnson in 2018.
Afsal’s performance earned him a second-place finish at the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level meet, held at the Dubai Police Stadium. He was narrowly edged out by Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat, who won the race with a time of 1:45.38.
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While Afsal’s timing fell just short of the 2025 World Athletics Championships automatic qualification mark of 1:44.50, it marked a significant improvement in his personal best and reaffirmed his status as one of India’s top middle-distance athletes. The Kerala athlete had earlier clinched a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43.
Meanwhile, another Indian national record holder, Animesh Kujur, continued his fine form by winning the men’s 200m in 20.45 seconds. Although slightly slower than his record-breaking 20.40 run at the 2025 Federation Cup, it was enough to secure gold in Dubai. Amlan Borgohain, the former national record holder, finished fifth with a timing of 21.08 seconds.
The meet offered a promising outlook for Indian athletics as the country’s top runners build momentum ahead of a crucial international season.
Afsal’s performance earned him a second-place finish at the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level meet, held at the Dubai Police Stadium. He was narrowly edged out by Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat, who won the race with a time of 1:45.38.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
While Afsal’s timing fell just short of the 2025 World Athletics Championships automatic qualification mark of 1:44.50, it marked a significant improvement in his personal best and reaffirmed his status as one of India’s top middle-distance athletes. The Kerala athlete had earlier clinched a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43.
NATIONAL RECORD!!
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) May 9, 2025
Mohammed Afsal clocked 1:45.61 seconds in men's 800m to improve national record at World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level in Dubai today. Previous record of 1:45.65 was clocked by Jinson Johnson in 2018 in Assam.#IndianAthletics #800m #Dubai
Meanwhile, another Indian national record holder, Animesh Kujur, continued his fine form by winning the men’s 200m in 20.45 seconds. Although slightly slower than his record-breaking 20.40 run at the 2025 Federation Cup, it was enough to secure gold in Dubai. Amlan Borgohain, the former national record holder, finished fifth with a timing of 21.08 seconds.
Muhammad Afsal has set a new national record in the men’s 800m, clocking 1:45.61 at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix.
— Abhishek Mishra (@mishraABH1SHEK) May 9, 2025
The previous mark of 1:45.65 by Jinson Johnson (2018). pic.twitter.com/JtjVAjjG5D
The meet offered a promising outlook for Indian athletics as the country’s top runners build momentum ahead of a crucial international season.
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