Kerala Quarter-Miler Muhammad Ajmal Sidelined for Nearly Six Months Due to Freak Knee Injury

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Muhammad Ajmal, India's 26-year-old Hangzhou Asian Games gold medallist in the men's 4x400m relay from Kerala, sustained a severe injury to his right knee during a training session earlier this month.

The freak incident has sidelined him for nearly six months, potentially causing him to miss major competitions in 2025, including the World Relays in May. Ajmal is the second high-profile Indian athlete to be sidelined this year due to injury.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the men's long jump, Murali Sreeshankar, missed the 2024 Paris Olympic Games due to a knee injury. He has since recovered and returned to training.

Ajmal's season best for the individual 400m was 45.69 seconds. He was a key member of the national 400m relay team that secured fifth place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Medical experts have recommended extensive rehabilitation for Ajmal. "I've started rehab," the 26-year-old told Mykhel over the phone from Bellary in Karnataka, where he is undergoing treatment. "The doctor has told me it will take more than four months before I can start jogging."

Ajmal explained that he was initially unaware of the extent of the damage to his knee, which occurred while performing a single-leg jump exercise on a grassy field. "The third-degree injury damaged the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament)," he said.

The international sprinter from Kerala mentioned that he had to undergo surgery to alleviate the pain, and recovery to competitive fitness could take more than six months.

Ajmal, a former footballer who transitioned to track racing during his school days, rose to prominence last season and cemented his place in the men's 4x400m relay team. He was part of the Indian squad that set a national record of 2:59.05 en route to their fifth-place finish at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary.

He was also a member of the national team that clinched gold in the men's 4x400m relay at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China. Ajmal is expected to miss the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China, scheduled for May 10-11 in Guangzhou. At this event, the top 14 teams in each relay event will secure qualification for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, set to take place from 13 to 27 September in Tokyo, Japan.

"I think I should get fully fit by next September," Ajmal concluded.