UAE Athletics Grand Prix: Mohammed Afsal breaks 7-year-old men's 800m NR

Asian Games medalist middle-distance runner, Mohammed Afsal P, broke the 7-year-old national record in the men's 800m event at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, UAE, on Friday.

He improved his personal best by half a second to clock a time of 1:45.61s and finish in second position in the final of men's 800m at this bronze-level meet, behind Nicholas Kiplagat of Kenya.

This is also the fourth-best time in Asia this year, bettering the Indian men's 800m national record (1:45.65s) set by veteran Indian middle-distance runner Jinson Johnson in 2018 by 0.04s.

Meanwhile, the Indian men's 4*100m quartet of Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain clinched the men's sprint relay title with a solid time of 38.76 seconds.

Animesh Kujur wins the men's 200m

In the men's 200m event, national record holder Animesh Kujur continued his superb form to clock another sub-20.50 time to clinch the gold medal in his first international meet of the year.

He comfortably won the title by clocking a time of 20.45s in the final to finish ahead of Chad's second-placed Mahamat Youssoouf (20.93s). Amlan, meanwhile, finished in 5th position with a time of 21.08s.

On the other hand, Gurindervir Singh finished the men's 100m event in 8th position with a time of 10.41s, whereas Manikanta Hoblidhar (10.52s) and Lalu Bhoi finished in 12th and 13th positions, respectively.

Medalists:

Gold - Men's 4*100m relay team A - 38.76s

Gold - Animesh Kujur - Men's 200m - 20.45s

Gold - P David - Men's Long Jump - 7.78m

Silver - Shaili Singh - Women's Long Jump - 6.44m

Silver - Mohammed Afsal - Men's 800m - 1:45.61s

Silver - Mohamed Sinan - men's 400m - 46.67s

Bronze - Poorva Sawant - Women's triple Jump - 13.09m

Bronze - Men's 4*100m relay team B - 39.30s

Bronze - Ancy Sojan - Women's Long Jump - 6.33m