Kerala’s Manu T S delivered a sensational performance at the Indian Open 400m Championships, clocking a lifetime best of 46.51s in the men’s 400m final to claim the gold medal.
In a fiercely contested race, Jay Kumar (46.93s) and Tushar Manna (47.00s) secured silver and bronze, respectively.
Manu’s victory wasn’t just about the final—he had already set the tone in the heats, clocking another personal best of 46.56s, the fastest time across all heats. With back-to-back PBs in a single competition, Manu proved he is one of India’s brightest emerging quarter-milers.
Men’s 400m Final: Race A – The One to Watch!
Out of 38 athletes, 16 qualified for the men’s 400m final, divided into Race A & Race B. Race A featured the best of the best, with four sub-47 runners from the heats battling for supremacy.
Final Lineup & Heat Performances
📌 Race A – Lane Assignments & Best Times:
• 1️⃣ Sajin V – 47.57
• 2️⃣ Dharmveer – 47.55
• 3️⃣ Rince Joseph – 47.24
• 4️⃣ Manu T S – 46.56 (PB) 🔥
• 5️⃣ Jay Kumar – 46.82
• 6️⃣ Tushar Kanti – 46.89
• 7️⃣ Santhosh Kumar – 46.93
• 8️⃣ Vishal T K – 47.49
Sub-47 Performers of the Day:
✅ Manu T S – 46.51s (Final, PB) 🥇
✅ Jay Kumar – 46.93s (Final) 🥈
✅ Tushar Manna – 47.00s (Final) 🥉
✅ Santhosh Kumar – 46.93s (Heats & Final)**
With the Federation Cup on the horizon, these performances set up an exciting battle among India’s top 400m runners. Some of these athletes may also be seen in upcoming Indian Open Meets before the big showdown.
Rupal Chaudhary Announces Her Comeback in Style!
In the women’s 400m, Uttar Pradesh’s Rupal Chaudhary made a statement with a dominant 52.41s victory! After a challenging 2023 season, the 2022 World Junior medalist is back in form, clocking the third-fastest time of her career.
Rupal, the only individual 400m runner included in the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), looked in control from the start and won the race by over a second. Vithya Ramraj (53.62s) secured silver, while the competition fielded some of India’s best quarter-milers.
Women’s 400m: Rupal Leads from the Front
🔥 Heats Performance:
• Rupal Chaudhary – 53.34s (Only sub-54s runner!)
🏆 Final Results:
🥇 Rupal Chaudhary – 52.41s
🥈 Vithya Ramraj – 53.62s
🥉 Sneha K – 54.70s
Final Lane Assignments & Best Times
1️⃣ Jisna Mathew – 55.19
2️⃣ Ansa Babu – 55.25
3️⃣ Anankha B A – 54.96
4️⃣ Rupal Chaudhary – 53.34 (PB in Heats) 🔥
5️⃣ Vithya Ramraj – 54.02
6️⃣ Sneha K – 54.70
7️⃣ Prachi – 54.86
8️⃣ Rashdeep Kaur – 55.14
Rupal’s 52.41s sets the tone for a strong 2025 season. With the Federation Cup coming up, she will aim to dip below 52 seconds and push for international qualification standards.
Relay Team Selection & Road Ahead
As the Open 400m Championships progress, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has published selection guidelines for the World Relays (March 20th). Performances at the Open 400m Championships & Federation Cup will be the key criteria for relay team selection.
India’s Men’s & Women’s 4x400m relay teams are included in the TOPS scheme, but the final team members are yet to be decided. With Manu T S, Rupal Chaudhary, and Jay Kumar showing top form, they could be strong contenders for a spot in the squad.
Stay tuned as the road to the Federation Cup & World Relays unfolds!
#IndianAthletics #RoadToWorldRelays
