India’s Malayali ace Afsal strikes gold in Saudi Grand Prix

India's 800-metre national record holder, Mohammed Afsal from Kerala, won gold in the Saudi Grand Prix on Friday.

The Palakkad native won comfortably, clocking 1:48.24. South Africa’s Christopher Swart and Werner Gouws took second and third places on 1:48.50 and 1:48.75 respectively.

The 30-year-old Afsal is the only Indian to run 800 metres under 1:45. His personal best of 1:44.93, which is also the national record, was set last July in Poland.

India's ace sprinters Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh are also competing in the Grand Prix.

Afsal is one of the success stories of Kerala's famed state school meet. He is one of the few athletes who got a break at the school meet and went on to become national stars.