Muhammad Anas Athletics: Age, Olympics, Arjuna Award, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Records

Muhammad Anas Yahiya is Kerala born Indian sprinter specializing in 400 meters distance. Anas became the first athlete from India in 60 years to reach the finals of a track event at the Commonwealth Games.

Anas is India’s sprinting sensation and hope for the Olympic Medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. Born on 17 September 1994 in Kallambalam, Kerala, Muhammad Anas made a successful transition from a Navy Man to Champion Sprinter. Born in a humble background, Anas was turned towards athletics when he was in the 5^th standard. However, life wasn’t as easy as for Anas as it seems. He lost his father due to heart-attack at an early stage of his life and was helped by his mother to pursue his dream of being a sportsperson.

A long jumper in his school days, Muhammad Anas surprised everyone when he clocked 400 meters in just 49 seconds after his school coach had a vacancy in the 400. And then, there was no looking back. Anas then went on to win the Calicut university championship twice and a silver medal in the Indian University Championship 2014. He then also became the part of the 4x400m relay squad of Kerala that won the silver medal in the National Games in February 2015. Eventually, he was picked by the talent scouting team of the Indian Navy.

Muhammad Anas Record

Anas ran the 400 meters semifinals in the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast in 45.31 seconds which is less than what the “Flying Sikh” – Legendary Milkha Singh had achieved during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, 1958. (Milkha Singh achieved the feat in 46.6 seconds)

Date of Birth: 17 September 1994

Height: 5ft 10in

Weight: 70 Kg

Alma Mater: Sree Krishna College, Guruvayur | Calicut University

Career

• In June 2016, Anas broke the national 400 m record at the Polish Athletics Championships, clocking 45.40 seconds, the exact qualification mark for the 2016 Olympics.
• Anas also became the third Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympic event, after Milkha Singh (1956 and 1960) and K. M. Binu (2004)

Olympics

• In July 2016, Anas was part of the relay team that broke the national 4 × 400 meters record in Bangalore and qualified for the Rio Olympics

Muhammad Anas Asian Games 2018

• Anas won three silver medals in Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, in the individual 400 m, and men’s 4×400 m and mixed 4×400 m relays

Muhammad Anas South Asian Games

• Anas won the Gold medal in South Asian Games in Guwahati in Men’s 4×400 m

Muhammad Anas Asian Championships

• Gold in 2017 Bhubaneshwar Asian Championships in 400 m
• Gold in 2017 Bhubaneshwar Asian Championships in Men’s 4×400 m

Muhammad Anas Commonwealth Games

• He ended up fourth in the 400 m, while his men’s 4×400 m failed to finish in 2018

2019 Doha

• Silver medal in Mixed 4×400 m

Arjuna Award

• Mohammad Anas Yahiya won Arjuna Award in 2019 in Athletics

Family

Mother – Sheena

Father – Died due to heart attack in Gulf in Anas’ early days

Coach – Galina Bukharina, PB Jaikumar, Mohammed Kunji

Lesser known facts

• Anas won Gold in the men’s 300 meters sprinting category at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter event in the Czech Republic, clocking 32.41 seconds.
• On April 10, 2018, Mohammed Anas Yahiya finished fourth in the men’s 400m track event at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.