Muhammed Anas

Muhammed Anas Yahiya, hailing from the village of Nilamel in Kerala, India, has become a prominent figure in Indian athletics, especially known for his achievements in the 400 meters category and holds the national record for it. He is also a three time Olympian having represented India in the 400m and 4*400 relay race in Olympics 2016, 2020 and 2024. Anas's journey to the top of Indian athletics began with an inspiration drawn from Usain Bolt's performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a spectacle that sparked his passion for track events​.

Born on Sept 17th, 1994, he started as a long jumper due to his physique, but later switched to sprinting during his school years. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he clinched the gold medal in the 400m at the Junior National Championships, heralding the arrival of a significant new talent on the national scene.

Anas's career took a professional turn when he joined the Indian Navy in 2015, where he found the stability and support needed to pursue his athletic ambitions fully. This allowed him to follow rigorous training schedules, culminating in a historic performance at the Polish Athletics Championships in 2016. There, Anas shattered the national 400m record with a time of 45.40 seconds, securing his ticket to the Rio Olympics and becoming only the third Indian to qualify for the Olympics in this event after legends like Milkha Singh and K.M. Binu​.

The 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta was a particularly noteworthy chapter in Anas's career. He won a gold medal in the mixed 4x400m relay and bagged two silver medals in the men's 400m and 4x400m relays. His performance solidified his status as one of Asia's top sprinters.

In 2019, Anas again broke his national 400m record, clocking 45.21 seconds at the Czech Athletics Championships. Later, that year he was awarded with the Arjuna Award for his exceptional running performances. His continued excellence on the track saw him representing India in the 4x400m mixed relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the recent Paris 2024 Olympics along with V Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Mijo Chacko Kurian, Santhosh Tam and Rajesh Ramesh.

Today, Muhammed Anas Yahiya is a celebrated national athlete; he is a symbol of perseverance and determination, inspiring a generation of athletes in India to pursue their dreams with hard work and dedication. His journey from a small village to the global athletic stage encapsulates the spirit of Indian athletics and the potential hidden in its youth.