MP Jabir clocked 50.77 whereas USA's Rai Benjamin won the race with a timing of 48.60 sec.
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India’s MP Jabir finished last in the heat 5 of men’s 400m hurdles at Tokyo Olympics 2020. With this the 25-year-old’s Tokyo Olympics journey comes to an end. As expected, USA’s Rai Benjamin won the race with a timing of 48.60sec. Meanwhile Estonia’s Rasmus Maggi, South Africa’s Sokwakhana Zazini and Netherlands’ Nick Smidt finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race to qualify for the next round. The top four automatically qualify for the semi-finals they will be followed by athletes with the best timings in the heats.
Norway’s Karsten Warholm is the world record holder with a timing of 46.70 set in 2021. The 25-year-old won heat 3 comfortably to qualify for the semi-final.
Jabir was the first Indian to compete in 400m hurdles at the Olympics since PT Usha in the women’s category at 1984 Los Angeles. The Indian Navy athlete qualified for Tokyo Olympics after clocking 49.78 to win the gold medal at the Inter-state athletics championship held in Patiala.
The Indian Navy Sailor hails from Malappuram, Kerala.
Apart from MP Jabir, Avinash Sable and Dutee Chand were the other athletes to have started their campaign in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Sable had begun the race well but he faltered as it went on.
The Indian was at the top for almost a lap and a half. However, in this sport of stamina, and longevity, using your energy in the most optimum way is the key. The Indian was seen trailing behind his Ethiopian and Kenyan competitors. As a result, Sable’s Tokyo Olympics journey ended at the seventh spot. It is a heartbreak for India, for sure. Considering it was India’s first 3000 m steeplechase since 1952, it sets the tone for more athletes.
Sable was chasing a history. The last time India won any medal in athletics in the Olympics was back in 1900, at the Paris Olympics by Norman Pritchard.
The Tokyo Olympics, which was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now up and running. The Games have not been without their share of controversies, however.
The event is happening despite plenty of protests from the Japanese people against it. And the angst is not without reason. Tokyo is currently in a state of emergency due to a rise in COVID cases.
The Games will, by and large, be played out in the absence of fans. This was always a major psychological blow to athletes.
