Road to Rio: Muhammed Anas, the eighteen-year-old Indian quarter-miler at Olympics 2016

Name: Muhammed Anas Age: 18 Discipline (sport): Athletics Category: Men’s 400m event, Men’s 4x400m relay Qualification: Mohammad Anas qualified for the Rio Olympics by shattering the men’s 400m national record on the second day of Polish Athletics Championship at Bydgoszcz. He clocked 45.40 seconds, the exact Rio qualification timing. Strengths: Young and energetic, Anas is a born athlete. Unlike several Indian athletes who have taken to sports at a later age, Anas has always been part of some sport or the other. The national record-holder has a great chance to harness his potential further at the Olympics. Past Olympic performance: Debut Past record (best performances): - Silver in the Federation Cup National Athletics Championships in April 2016 with a timing of 45.74 seconds. Rio Prospects: Young Anas won’t be expected to come back with a medal, but like any other Indian athlete, a place in the final would be the aim for the 18-year-old. [caption id=“attachment_2917096” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Muhammed Anas will be a key member of the men’s 400m event at Rio Olympics. News18[/caption]

Eighteen year-old Muhammed Anas is already a history maker for his country even before he has stepped on the plane to Rio. The quarter-miler is only the third Indian to have qualified for the event at the Olympics after the legendary Milkha Singh and KM Binu. The young athlete is also a part of the 4x400m relay team that is also just the third time an Indian team has made it to the event.

Born in a small town of Nilamel in Kerala, a hotbed for talents in athletics, Anas was bred with sports activities around him. His father was also a sprinter during his younger days, but couldn’t achieve great deal of success due to lack of support. At Rio, Anas will attempt to fulfill his father’s unaccomplished dreams.

Anas who wanted to be a long-jumper initially, was spotted by physical education instructor B Ansar at MMHS School, Nilamel during summer camps. Ansar sensed the potential in Anas and took him to Kothamangalam where he was introduced to 400m and 400m hurdles. There was no looking back for Anas from then on and he now lies on the cusp of his first Olympic appearance.

The young sprinter’s road to Rio has been nothing short of a fairytale. The 2016 Olympics will be yet another step in the youngsters’ career and one that could be a stepping stone to many glory-ridden years ahead.