As the Asian athletics season heats up ahead of the major continental meets later this year, the Asian 400m rankings offer a revealing picture of the region’s current sprinting landscape.
By May 24 (for women) and May 26 (for men), a close look at the top 400m performers shows India emerging as a growing force in the women’s event, while Japan firmly dominates the men’s rankings.
Women’s 400m: Indian Women Surge Ahead
At the top of the women’s Asian list is Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, a world-class athlete and former world champion, whose 48.67 clocking is not only the best in Asia but among the fastest in the world this year. While her presence at the top is no surprise, what follows is a strong surge from Indian quarter-milers who are staking their claim on the continental stage.
India’s Aishwarya Mishra has firmly established herself as Asia’s second-best 400m runner so far in 2025, with a personal best of 51.12 seconds. This performance places her just behind Naser and well ahead of the rest of the pack. Aishwarya’s run shows growing consistency and marks her out as a key name to watch leading into the Asian Championships and possibly the World Championships qualification cycle.
Joining her in the top five are two more Indian athletes — Rupal, who sits fourth with 52.41, and Vithya Ramraj, ranked sixth at 52.81. India’s depth is further highlighted by Sneha Kolleri, who clocks in at 53.00 for eighth place. Four Indians in the top ten underlines the country’s rapid progress in women’s 400m running, building on the legacy of athletes like Hima Das and M. R. Poovamma.
Here’s the full women’s top 10 as of May 24:
- 🇧🇭 Salwa Eid Naser – 48.67
- 🇮🇳 Aishwarya Mishra – 51.12
- 🇯🇵 Nanako Matsumoto – 52.14
- 🇮🇳 Rupal – 52.41
- 🇱🇧 Rasha Badrani – 52.72
- 🇮🇳 Vithya Ramraj – 52.81
- 🇹🇭 Josephine Onuorah – 52.90
- 🇮🇳 Sneha Kolleri – 53.00
- 🇨🇳 Y Liu – 53.14
- 🇱🇰 H Fernando – 53.16
With four Indian athletes in this list, the country has the highest representation. The focus now shifts to converting these rankings into podium finishes in continental competitions, especially with the Asian Athletics Championships and the Paris Diamond League qualifiers on the horizon.
Men’s 400m: Japanese Depth Dominates, India’s Ramesh Breaks Through
The men’s 400m list tells a different story. Japan’s sprinters have shown exceptional depth and consistency, occupying an astonishing seven of the top ten spots in Asia. Leading the pack is Fuga Sato with a time of 45.23, followed closely by fellow countryman Hirakawa at 45.28.
Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, better known for his 400m hurdles exploits, makes his presence felt in third at 45.34, followed by Yahiya Ibrahim (45.58), also of Qatar. The UAE’s Abdulrahman and China’s Wumaier are the only other non-Japanese names inside the top 11.
India’s Ramesh slots into the joint tenth position with a time of 45.77, matching four others — Japan’s K. Sato, Imaizumi, and China’s Wumaier. While Ramesh’s entry into the elite list is a positive sign, the overall rankings make it clear that India has work to do to challenge Japan’s dominance in the men’s quarter-mile.
Men’s top 10 (by May 26):
- 🇯🇵 F. Sato – 45.23
- 🇯🇵 Hirakawa – 45.28
- 🇶🇦 Samba – 45.34
- 🇶🇦 Yahiya Ibrahim – 45.58
- 🇯🇵 Hayashi – 45.65
- 🇦🇪 Abdulrahman – 45.66
- 🇯🇵 Yoshizu – 45.74
- 🇯🇵 Ito – 45.76
- 🇯🇵 K. Sato – 45.76
- 🇯🇵 Imaizumi / 🇨🇳 Wumaier / 🇮🇳 Ramesh – 45.77
What Lies Ahead
With the Asian Athletics Championships, Olympic qualification cut-offs, and the World University Games coming up, these rankings serve as a critical benchmark. For India, the depth in the women’s 400m gives legitimate hope for medals and relay success. For the men, Ramesh’s breakthrough offers a start, but bridging the gap with Japan will require systemic progress and performance under pressure.
As the summer season unfolds, expect these rankings to shift — but India’s women are already making their mark, one lap at a time.
