Gujarat’s 19-year-old Murad Sirman lit up Day 3 of the National Junior (U20) Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar with a stunning double act first breaking a 12-year-old meet record in the morning session, and then returning in the afternoon to seal gold in the men’s 400m hurdles with an even better timing.
The youngster, already one of the most exciting prospects in Indian athletics, clocked 50.75 seconds in the final, not only improving upon his 51.00s semifinal time but also registering the third-fastest time by an Indian (senior and junior combined) in the 2025 season.
Breaking Barriers: From Semis to Final
Murad’s day began with an authoritative display in the morning session. Lining up in the 400m hurdles semifinal, he stormed to a 51.00s finish, erasing the meet record of 51.26s set by Durgesh Kumar way back in 2012.
It was only his season opener, yet the rhythm, strength, and confidence he displayed hinted that something even more special was on the cards.
He returned in the final, held in the afternoon session, and did not disappoint. Running in lane 5, Murad executed a well-paced race — attacking the backstretch with precision and conserving just enough for a strong home straight push. He crossed the line in 50.75s, well ahead of the rest of the field, stamping his authority on the event.
A Seasoned Junior on the Rise
Murad Sirman has been quietly building a strong resume over the past year. At the National Junior Athletics Championships 2023, he won silver, showcasing his early promise. That was followed by another silver at the Inter-State Athletics Championships, where he clocked a personal best of 50.60s a performance that solidified his place among the top junior hurdlers in India.
What makes Murad’s journey even more commendable is his consistency across events and surfaces. Unlike many junior athletes who peak at a single event, Murad has maintained steady improvement. He was also selected to represent India at the World U-20 Athletics Championships, a stage that has served as a launchpad for many of India’s elite track stars.
The Next Big Target: National Record?
With Tuesday’s final run of 50.75s, Murad now edges closer to an even more significant target — the U20 National Record of 50.16s, held by T. Santhosh. That benchmark, while challenging, doesn’t seem too far off for a runner of Murad’s caliber. Given that his personal best stands at 50.60s, achieved last year, he’s just six-tenths of a second away.
That gap could well be bridged with more race experience, exposure to international meets, and continued improvements in technique especially over the final 100m, where most junior hurdlers tend to lose pace.
A New Era for Gujarat Athletics?
Murad’s rise is also a boost for Gujarat’s athletics scene, which historically hasn’t produced as many track champions as some southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Alongside other emerging talents from Odisha (especially in the 400m flat), his success indicates that the geography of talent in Indian athletics is evolving.
There was palpable excitement in the stadium stands when Murad crossed the finish line — not just for the gold medal, but for what it represents: a new wave of Indian hurdlers, fearless and focused.
With the Asian U-20 Athletics Championships and other international meets on the calendar, Murad Sirman’s breakout performance at the Junior Federation Cup could not have come at a better time. He has already proven his ability to hold his nerve across heats and finals, and he now has multiple 50-point performances under his belt a rarity in Indian junior hurdles.
If he stays injury-free and continues to be guided well, Murad has all the tools to challenge for continental and even global honours in the years to come.
In a year where Indian athletics has seen multiple junior records fall and new stars emerge, Murad Sirman’s twin performances in Bhubaneswar stand out for their sheer command and composure. A meet record in the morning, a gold medal and another sub-51s clocking in the afternoon, and a personal narrative of resilience and rise this is what makes Indian athletics so thrilling in 2025.
The 50.16s U20 National Record might still stand, but if there’s one name to watch in the chase, it’s Murad Sirman Gujarat’s finest hurdling hope.
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