India’s star sprinter Muhammed Anas won the gold medal in the men’s 400 metre category at the Cena Noveho Mesta nad Metuji meet held in Prage, setting a new national record in the process.
On Saturday, Anas clocked 45.24 seconds, breaking his own record of 45.31 that he set at the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, earlier this year. He had finished fourth there.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) took to social media to congratulate Anas.
“Congrats Mohd. ANAS for breaking his own 400m #Indian record in #Czech Rep. New Record-45.24s, Previous Best-45.31s Congrats coach Galina Bukharina for success of #HimaDas and #Anas!,” the AFI wrote on Twitter.
Congrats Mohd. ANAS @muhammedanasyah for breaking his own 400m #Indian record in #Czech Rep. New Record-45.24s,Previous Best-45.31s
Congrats coach Galina Bukharina for success of #HimaDas & #Anas! #AsianGames2018@Ra_THORe @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @NeelamKapur @Adille1 pic.twitter.com/wn5x0s3FpT— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) July 21, 2018
Anas, along with other quartermilers, is training near Prague as part of preparation for the upcoming Asian Games.
At the Cena Noveho Mesta nad Metuji meet, MR Poovamma won gold with a timing of 53.01 seconds in the women’s event. However, only five women competed in the event.
Kerala athlete Anas had broken the national record earlier when he clocked 45.40 seconds at the Polish Athletics Championship in June 2016. After that performance, Anas become the third Indian after legendary Milkha Singh and KM Binu to qualify for the Olympics in the men’s 400m category.