Panchkula, August 26: Vikrant Panchal delivered one of the standout performances of the 14th leg of the Indian Athletics Series 2026, defeating Olympian Muhammed Ajmal V in a competitive men’s 400m final at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula.
Panchal stopped the clock at 46.16 seconds to take the gold, while Ajmal finished second in 47.03s. Mohit Kumar completed the podium with 47.27s. The result gave Panchal an important victory over one of India’s most experienced quarter-milers and underlined his growing presence in the national 400m scene.
Panchal gets the better of Ajmal
The 26-year-old Haryana athlete entered the race with a strong recent record, having already produced a personal best of 45.88s in April 2026. Although his Panchkula winning time was slower than that mark, his 46.16s was enough to keep Ajmal at bay in a race that featured considerable experience.
Ajmal, a member of India’s gold-medal-winning men’s 4x400m relay team at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, crossed the finish line in 47.03s. He also represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making Panchal’s victory particularly significant. Ajmal’s personal best stands at 45.36s.
The result also marked a reversal from their earlier meetings. At the 2023 Indian Open 400m Championships, Ajmal won the final in 46.90s, while Panchal finished fourth in 47.83s.
400m final: Top three
Gold: Vikrant Panchal — 46.16s
Silver: Muhammed Ajmal V — 47.03s
Bronze: Mohit Kumar — 47.27s
Panchal’s winning margin over Ajmal was 0.87 seconds, while Mohit Kumar was a further 0.24 seconds behind Ajmal.
National record remains the target
While Panchal secured the victory, the performance was still some distance from the current Indian men’s 400m national record.
Indian national record: 44.98s — Vishal T K, set at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May 2026.
Panchal’s personal best of 45.88s places him much closer to the country’s leading 400m runners, and his Panchkula victory could provide another confidence boost as the season progresses.
Panchkula throws up several winners
The 400m was not the only event to produce notable performances at the Panchkula leg. Sandeep Singh won the men’s 100m in 10.73s, while Aryan Jagdish Kadam topped the 200m in 21.32s.
In the field events, Sebastian V S won the men’s triple jump with a best effort of 16.25m, while Nitika Anup Akare took the women’s pole vault with a 3.90m clearance.
The road ahead
The Panchkula meet was the 14th leg of the Indian Athletics Series 2026. The series now moves to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, for its 15th leg on September 2.
For Panchal, however, Panchkula will be remembered as the night he turned a highly anticipated battle with an Olympian into a statement victory. With a 45.88s personal best already on the clock this season, the Haryana sprinter now has a clear benchmark to chase: closing the gap towards India’s 44-second barrier.
Key Numbers
400m winner: Vikrant Panchal
Winning time: 46.16s
Personal best: 45.88s
Runner-up: Muhammed Ajmal V — 47.03s
Third place: Mohit Kumar — 47.27s
National record: 44.98s — Vishal T K
Venue: Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula
Series: Indian Athletics Series 2026, Leg 14
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