Assam’s sprinter Mehedi Hassan secured the gold medal in the men’s 1500-metre race at the recently concluded 27th National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Odisha.
Clocking in at 3:42:82, he clinched the top spot, narrowly edging out Abhishek Singh Thakur from Madhya Pradesh, who settled for second place. Yoonus Shah from Uttar Pradesh completed the podium by securing third place.
The prestigious event unfolded at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium over three days, from May 12 to May 15, organized by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), showcasing the nation’s elite athletic talent across various disciplines.
Last year, Mehedi Hassan, hailing from North Athiabari near Barpeta Road in Assam, won a bronze medal in the men’s 1500-meter sprint at the Asian U20 Athletics Championship in Yecheon, South Korea. His remarkable achievement was honoured by the Assam Athletics Association (AAA), which celebrated his stellar performance. Assam’s Sports Minister, Nandita Gorlosa, also recognized him at a ceremony held in a Guwahati hotel.
The felicitation event saw the presence of notable figures such as Gitartha Goswami, Member Secretary of the State Level Advisory Committee for Students and Youth Welfare; Hemanta Kalita, Secretary General of the Boxing Federation of India; Lakhya Konwar and Ashok Bharali, President and General Secretary of AAA; Pradeep Timung, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare, alongside Mehedi’s father, Abul Kalam Azad.
Hassan’s journey to success commenced at the Sarusajai Sports Complex under the tutelage of coaches Nipon Das and Nabajit Malakar before refining his skills in Kolkata. Despite encountering setbacks due to injuries, Hassan persisted, propelled by the steadfast backing of his coaches and family.
