Indian athletics witnessed a historic moment at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai when Vishal Thenarasu (Vishal TK) stormed to gold in the men’s 400m final, clocking 45.12 seconds, a new national record.
With this performance, Vishal not only secured his fifth sub-46 timing of the year but also shattered the six-year-old national record of 45.21s set by Muhammed Anas Yahiya in 2019. It marks the coming of age of a runner who, until this season, had never gone below the 46-second barrier. Now, in just under three months, he has achieved the feat five times and has risen to fourth in Asia’s 2025 lead rankings, signaling his emergence as India’s newest 400m sensation.
A Record Six Years in the Waiting
For years, Muhammed Anas Yahiya was the benchmark in Indian men’s 400m running. His 45.21s, clocked in 2019, stood unchallenged despite the emergence of promising names like Muhammed Ajmal and Arokia Rajiv. The record symbolized the ceiling for Indian quarter-milers. Vishal’s 45.12s has now rewritten that ceiling, and the significance of his achievement cannot be overstated. Indian athletics has waited six years for a breakthrough in the men’s 400m an event that historically has been one of the most competitive globally.
The new Top 5 All-Time Indian Men’s 400m list reads:
- Vishal TK – 45.12s (2025) 🆕
- Muhammed Anas Yahiya – 45.21s (2019)
- Muhammed Ajmal – 45.36s (2022)
- Arokia Rajiv – 45.37s (2016)
- K. Mathews Binu – 45.48s (2004)
Vishal’s name now sits atop this list, signaling the dawn of a new era for Indian one-lap runners. What makes Vishal’s rise remarkable is the pace and consistency with which he has broken barriers. Entering 2025, Vishal’s personal best stood above 46 seconds. Yet, across a packed international and domestic season, he has transformed into one of Asia’s finest.
His sub-46 clocking this season are a testament to both endurance and form:
- May 28 – Asian Athletics Championships, Korea: 45.57s
- Aug 06 – Wieslaw Maniak Memorial: 45.82s
- Aug 10 – Indian Open, WACT Bronze: 45.72s
- Aug 20 – National Inter-State Semis: 45.78s
- Aug 21 – National Inter-State Final: 45.12s (National Record)
This progression shows an athlete steadily chipping away at the margins, peaking at the right time, and demonstrating elite-level consistency qualities rare in Indian athletics, where performances often peak once or twice a season.
Vishal’s 45.12s now places him fourth in Asia’s 2025 season best list, a significant achievement in a continent where 400m sprinting has grown increasingly competitive. With Asian athletes consistently dipping into the 44-second territory in recent years, Vishal’s form ensures that India has a genuine contender in one of the blue-riband events of athletics. His performance also boosts India’s prospects in the 4x400m relay, an event where the country has historically shown promise. With Vishal’s sub-45.5 form, alongside athletes like Muhammed Ajmal and Amoj Jacob, the men’s relay squad suddenly looks capable of challenging the Asian elite.
The men’s 400m is a unique test of speed endurance neither a pure sprint like the 100m nor a tactical race like the 800m. Globally, it has been dominated by legends like Michael Johnson, Wayde van Niekerk, and Kirani James. Breaking into the 45-second bracket is often considered the threshold of world-class performance. For India, consistently producing 400m runners capable of low-45s or even sub-45 has been the missing link in its athletics program. Vishal’s emergence hints at a breakthrough moment. If nurtured carefully, he could be the first Indian to push into the sub-45 bracket, something that once seemed unthinkable.
From Unknown to National Record Holder
Until recently, Vishal TK was not considered among India’s headline sprinters. His career trajectory mirrors the story of many Indian athletes gradual progress at domestic meets, flashes of promise, and then a breakout season. 2025 has been that breakout year. Coaches point to a combination of refined training, improved conditioning, and a growing exposure to international competition as the catalysts. Competing in meets like the Asian Championships and the World Athletics Continental Tour (WACT) has not only raised his standards but also given him the confidence to race against stronger fields. In Chennai, all those learnings culminated in a race that will be remembered in Indian athletics for years.
Vishal’s record comes at a time when Indian athletics is riding a wave of optimism following performances at the Paris Olympics (2024) and continental meets. With Neeraj Chopra in javelin spearheading India’s athletics narrative, track events have often struggled to match the spotlight. But Vishal’s run changes the conversation. For the first time since Milkha Singh’s exploits in the 1950s and 60s, and later the emergence of Anas Yahiya, the men’s 400m has produced an athlete capable of challenging Asia’s best. Moreover, the record has implications for India’s relay strategy. The men’s 4x400m squad, which has flirted with Asian records in the past, now has a potential low-45 runner to anchor its ambitions.
The Road Ahead: Can Vishal Go Sub-45?
The big question now is whether Vishal can breach the sub-45 barrier. Globally, sub-45 is the mark that differentiates good athletes from truly elite ones. For India, even touching the 44-second zone would be historic. Vishal’s current form suggests it may not be out of reach. The way he has progressed from never breaking 46s to five sub-46 runs in less than three months highlights rapid development. His 45.12s is not an isolated spike but part of a consistent trend. Yet, the challenge is immense. The sub-45 mark requires not just form but precision in training, race management, and recovery. It also requires exposure to higher-level competition, where athletes are pushed by rivals capable of running in the 44s.
In Chennai, as Vishal TK crossed the line ahead of his competitors, he not only won gold but also announced himself as the new face of Indian sprinting. His 45.12s national record has broken a six-year-old barrier and set new aspirations for Indian athletics. From being an athlete who had never run below 46 seconds to becoming the fastest Indian quarter-miler in history, Vishal’s journey epitomizes the spirit of breakthrough performances. His record is more than just a statistic it represents hope, progress, and the promise of a future where Indian athletes can dream of competing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best.
As India celebrates this new star, the athletics community now looks ahead with anticipation: Can Vishal TK break the sub-45 barrier and elevate Indian 400m running to the next level?
One thing is certain with the hunger and momentum he has shown in 2025, this is only the beginning.
