At just 18, Mohammed Ashfaq is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in Indian athletics. The Kerala sprinter delivered a stunning performance, clocking 46.05 seconds in the 400m, a new U20 national record and the fastest time in Asia this season.
What makes this run even more special is the scale of improvement. Ashfaq shaved nearly half a second off his personal best, a huge leap in a one-lap race. His timing now stands as India’s seventh fastest this season and places him 20th on the country’s all-time list.
His rise, however, has been building steadily. At the start of 2026, he ran 48.10s in Trivandrum. Soon after, he improved to 46.83s in New Delhi, showing clear progress.
At the ongoing Junior Federation Cup, he dominated the heats with 47.39s, breaking the Asian U20 qualification mark, and followed it up with another strong 46.83s in the semifinals.
Now, with both Asian and World U20 standards achieved, Ashfaq is knocking on the door of the elite sub-46 club. If this momentum continues, Indian 400m running may have found its next big star.