Ashfaq’s 45.81 Seconds Earns Second Place in Heat, Moves to 400m Final

Mohammad Ashfaq recorded a swift 45.81 seconds in the fifth qualifying heat of the men’s 400 m at the World U‑20 Championships, earning second place and breaking the Indian under‑20 record of 46.05 seconds set in April in Bangalore.

His time propelled him into the semi‑finals, where a 46.00‑second performance in heat three secured a third‑place finish and a ticket to the final. Ashfaq’s consistency across rounds highlights his rising stature in sprinting.

Other Indian competitors included Piyush Raj, who ran 47.78 seconds in heat six and did not advance, and high‑jump specialist Basant, who cleared 2.14 m to reach the final. K. Ambresh’s best of 2.05 m was not enough for qualification.