The lanes at Kalinga Stadium are set to witness a high-octane clash in the men’s and women’s 400m as top sprinters from across Asia, Africa, and Europe prepare to test their mettle at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet in Bhubaneswar.
With national champions, international medalists, and Olympic hopefuls on the entry list, the quarter-mile contests promise fireworks in one of India’s premier athletics venues.
Men’s 400m: Vishal TK Leads India’s Formidable Pack
In the men’s 400m, all eyes will be on India’s new one-lap sensation Vishal TK, who clocked an impressive 45.57 seconds earlier this season. Vishal, who placed sixth at the 2024 World Junior Championships and fourth at the 2025 Asian Championships, has emerged as a genuine medal contender on the senior circuit. With his calm demeanor and fluid stride, he leads a strong Indian contingent looking to challenge international stars.
He will be joined by Amoj Jacob, who recently ran 46.59 in his season-best outing and remains one of India’s most experienced relay specialists. The 2023 Asian Games silver medallist in the 4x400m relay, Amoj brings critical depth and race maturity to the field.
Also returning to form is Rajesh Ramesh, who had clocked 45.77 earlier this year. A mainstay of India’s relay teams in recent seasons, Rajesh’s consistency makes him a crucial part of the national long sprint squad. His personal best stands at 45.54, which places him among the top-ranked Indian runners in the field.
Other strong Indian names include Jerome Sanjay Nishanth, a promising U23 athlete with a PB of 46.95, and Rince Joseph, who recorded 46.24 in 2024. Manu T S, who claimed silver in the 2025 Asian Championships relay team, enters with a solid mark of 46.39 this season. The international challenge will be led by Ricardo dos Santos of Portugal, a sub-45 specialist with a PB of 45.18 from 2018. Though his season best is 46.39, the ten-time national champion has the experience and power to dictate terms if he hits his stride.
Iraq’s Noureddine Adel Merzeh, winner of the 2025 Doha West Asian Grand Prix, enters with a lifetime best of 46.25 and will be backed by compatriot Taha Hussein Yaseen (SB: 46.97), the national record holder with a PB of 45.74. Sri Lanka’s Kalinga Kumarage, with a PB of 45.07, also adds weight to the line-up, having shown glimpses of his potential with a 45.55 earlier this year. Nepal’s national champion Som Bahadur Kumal and Prakash Danuwar round off the international field.
The Indian national record of 45.21 by Muhammed Anas Yahya remains untouched, but given the strength and form of the home contingent, especially with multiple athletes already under 46 seconds this season, this edition of the men’s 400m is poised to produce one of the fastest races on Indian soil in 2025.
Women’s 400m: The Field Runs Deep
It is Aishwarya Mishra and Jisna Mathew who may take center stage alongside a robust line-up of domestic and international athletes. Aishwarya Mishra, the 2023 Asian Championships silver medallist, has the fastest personal best in the field at 51.12s, and also leads the 2025 season list with the same time. Having gone sub-52s multiple times in the past, she’s a clear favorite, assuming she’s in form and fully fit.
Veteran quarter-miler Jisna Mathew, a two-time Asian Junior Champion and national relay mainstay, comes in with a best of 52.65 and a season best of 53.51, making her one of the more experienced competitors. Vithya Ramraj, known more for her exploits in the 400m hurdles, will also test herself over the flat one-lap with a PB of 52.24 and SB of 52.81.
Another name to watch is Subha Venkatesan, whose 2025 season best of 53.35 puts her in strong contention for a podium finish. Subha was part of India’s silver-winning relay squad at the Asian Championships and continues to be one of the most dependable relay runners in the national program. Also joining the Indian roster is Devyanshi Zala, a finalist at the World University Games relay this year, and Vijayakumari GK, the 2025 Indian Open winner, both looking to break the 53-second barrier and add competitive depth.
The international flavor comes from Louise Evans of Great Britain, the 2019 European Junior sprint relay gold medallist, who has a PB of 52.84. She could very well be the athlete to push the Indian favorites to their limits, especially after clocking 53.52 this season. South Africa’s Shirley Ndisahwela Nekhubui, who finished fourth at the 2024 African Championships, brings a strong PB of 51.28, second only to Mishra in the field. With a season best matching her personal best, she enters the meet in prime form. Sri Lanka’s Harshani Fernando, with a career best of 53.16, and Nepal’s Kaleshee Chaudhary, make up the rest of the international line-up.
The Kalinga Stadium record of 51.76 seconds (set by Himanshi Malik in 2023) could come under threat if conditions allow and the race gets tactical in the final 100m. With rankings points on the line, both 400m events will hold significant importance for national team selectors ahead of the 2026 season. The Bhubaneswar meet is also a prime opportunity for athletes to register qualifying marks for the 2025 World Championships & potentially for 2026 Asian Indoor Championships
The event also comes at a time when India is making a serious push in the 400m, especially in relays, with consistent appearances and medals at the Asian level. Individual performances like those from Muhammed Anas, Hima Das, and Arokia Rajiv in previous years have kept the event in national limelight, and the current crop looks ready to build on that legacy.
The 400m races in Bhubaneswar will serve as a litmus test for India’s sprinting depth, especially with a mix of youth, experience, and international pressure. Whether it’s Vishal TK and Amoj Jacob gunning for a sub-45.5 mark, or Aishwarya Mishra and Shirley Nekhubui dueling for top honors, the stage is perfectly set for one of the most eagerly awaited quarter-mile showdowns of the Indian season.
