Federation Cup Athletics 2024: India's Hurdle Phenom Santhosh Kumar Close To Sealing Paris Olympics Berth

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Santhosh Kumar, the rising star of Indian athletics, proved his mettle once again by clinching the gold in the men's 400m hurdles final at the ongoing Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar with a season-best time of 50.04 seconds.

As the overwhelming favourite, Kumar's stellar performance solidified his position as one of India's most promising athletes on the Road to Paris 2024. He is currently 34th in the Road to Paris Olympics rankings and would be looking to do better in upcoming events.

Reflecting on his performance yesterday, Santhosh spoke with myKhel and said, "I'm not satisfied with my performance, but it's okay. I was aiming for 48 seconds, but I clocked 50.04 seconds. I want to breach the qualification mark for the Paris Olympics."

Indeed, Kumar's journey has been marked by remarkable achievements and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Just days before his triumph at the Federation Cup, he showcased his prowess at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix, where he finished third in the men's 400m hurdles event with a time of 50.32 seconds, emerging as the top Indian performer.

Looking back at his performance in 2023, Kumar's talent shone brightly on the international stage. At the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, he clinched the bronze medal, clocking a personal best of 49.09 seconds.

However, at the World Championships in Budapest, despite clocking 50.46 seconds and finishing seventh in his heat, Kumar fell short of advancing to the semi-finals. Kumar also did well in the Sri Lanka National Athletics Meet in Colombo, he claimed gold in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 50.38 seconds.

Representing India at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Kumar displayed his potential, qualifying for the final with a time of 49.28 seconds, albeit finishing sixth with a time of 49.41 seconds.

Looking ahead, Kumar is focused on surpassing the Paris Olympics qualification standard of 48.70 seconds. With his sights set on Olympic glory, he is determined to elevate his performance in upcoming events.