Kiran Pahal qualifies for Paris Olympics 2024; clocks 50.92s in women's 400m at Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships

By Farzan Mohamed

Modified Jun 28, 2024 15:29 IST

Kiran Pahal (Image Credits: Athletics Federation of India/X)

Kiran Pahal secured a place at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the women's 400m event by clocking 50.92s at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2024 on Thursday, June 27. Earlier in the day, Kiran was the fastest in the women's 400m heats, clocking a time of 52.33 seconds. In the semi-final, the 23-year-old Indian athlete surpassed the Olympic Qualification mark (50.95s) with 50.92s and earned a ticket to Paris 2024.

She also broke the meet record of 51.13 seconds, which was held by Hima Das. The previous record was set in Guwahati at the 2018 edition of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.

The ongoing edition of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships was Kiran's first event this season. She was returning to the field after eight long months and also registered her personal best.

Her previous personal best was 51.84s, which she registered at the Haryana State Championships 2022. Kiran Pahal also became the second-fastest Indian in the women's 400m race. She is now behind Hima Das, who holds the national record of 50.79s.