Indian Open 400m 2024: Vithya Ramraj, Nirmal Noah Tom Claim Wins In Thiruvananthapuram

Add as a preferred source on Google

Vithya Ramraj and Nirmal Noah Tom started their outdoor season on a positive note as the duo won the respective women's and men's individual events at the Indian Open 400m 2024 at LNCPE in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (March 18).

25-year-old Vithya Ramraj, who is primarily a hurdler, clocked her personal best in 400m flat of 52.25 seconds (her previous best was 52.40s) to claim the top honour. Meanwhile, senior quarter-miler MR Poovamma finished second (52.69s) ahead of Dandi Jyothika Sri, who clocked her PB of 52.73.

Meanwhile, U-20 World Championships double medallist Rupal Chaudhary returned to competitive structure following a gap for mysterious reasons and clocked 52.79 seconds to finish fourth. Her personal best remains a stunning 51.85, achieved during the U-20 Worlds two years ago.

In the men's final, Kerala runner Nirmal Noah Tom beat his state-mate and national record holder Muhammad Anas Yahiya (46.48) to the gold with a timing of 46.40 seconds. Another Keralite Muhammed Ajmal took the last spot in the podium with a timing of 46.58 seconds.

Arokia Rajiv (47.47), Santhosh Kumar T (47.49) and Yashash P (47.52) finished outside the podium places. Meanwhile, other key names such as Amoj Jacob, Dharun Ayyasamy, Rajesh Ramesh and Mijo Chacko Kurian did not start the competition today due to unknown reasons.

In the U-20 men's category, Tamil Nadu's Naveen Kumar clocked 47.40 seconds to win the top spot ahead of Huzaifa Qaisar (47.66) and P Abiram (47.77). Bihar's Piyush Raj won the boys' U-18 event with a timing of 49.39 seconds while Yugank Choudhary (49.57) and Umesh Sahani (49.93) took the second and third places respectively.

Dodla Sai Sangeetha, meanwhile, won the women's U-20 event with a timing of 55.30 seconds while Mayukha Vinod won the girls' U-18 event with a timing of 58.83 seconds.

DODLA SAI SANGEETHA