Joseph Abraham

Joseph Abraham (born 11 September 1981) is an Indian track and field athlete from Kerala. He holds the current 400 metre hurdles State record of 49.51 seconds set during the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka on 26 August 2007.[2][3] At Osaka, Abraham became the first Indian male athlete to clear the opening round of an event in the World Athletics Championships when he reached the 400m hurdles semifinals.[4] He also won the 400m hurdles gold medal at 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.[5]

Joseph Abraham
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Ganapathiplackal Abraham
NationalityIndian
Born (1981-09-11) 11 September 1981
Kottayam, Kerala, India
Sport
CountryIndia
SportRunning
Event(s)400 metre hurdles, 400 metres
ClubINDIAN RAILWAYS
Retiredyes
Medal record
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2010 Guangzhou400 m hurdles
Silver medal – second place2006 Doha4×400 m relay
All-India Open National Championships[1]
Gold medal – first place 2005 Championships 400 metre hurdles
Asian Grand Prix circuit
Silver medal – second place 2007 Championships 400 m hurdles
Asian Athletics Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 Guangzhou 400 m hurdles
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Amman 400 m hurdles

Athletic career

Born in Kottayam district of Kerala, Abraham made a steady progress in intermediate hurdles. His first sub-52 came in 2003 and in the following year he clocked a time of 51.98 seconds. His best time in 2005 was 50.87 seconds.[6] His first national record came at the 2006 National inter-State athletics championship in Chennai. He broke the national record of 50.39 seconds held by Patlavath Shankar with a time of 50.22 seconds.[7] On 12 May 2007 at the 13th Federation Cup Athletics Championship in Kolkata, he broke his own 400m hurdles record 50.04 seconds to win the gold.[8] Joseph's first sub-50 performance came in the Guwahati Asian Grand Prix circuit athletics in June 2007. He won the silver by setting the new national record of 49.52 seconds while coming second behind Chinese Meng Yan.[6]

In June 2009, Abraham achieved the qualifying norm of 49.80 seconds for the Berlin World Championships, at the Indian Grand Prix meet in Chennai by clocking 49.59 seconds.[9] Later in the same year, he won a silver medal in 400m hurdles (with a time of 49.96 seconds) at the 2009 Asian Championships in Athletics held at Guangzhou, China.[10]

On 25 November 2010, Abraham became the first Indian to win individual gold medal at 400m hurdles at any Asian Games. He won the gold medal at 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games clocking a time of 49.96 seconds.[5]

400m sprint

Abraham also competes in the 400m sprint. His personal best for the 400 metres is 46.70 seconds set at the 2006 Open National Athletics Championships in New Delhi.[11]

References
  1. "Indian Championships and Games". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  2. "Official Website of Athletics Federation of India: NATIONAL RECORDS as on 21.3.2009". Athletics Federation of INDIA. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  3. "Joseph Abraham, Vikas Gowda go out". The Hindu. 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  4. "Hoffa dethrones Nelson in shot put". The Hindu. 26 August 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  5. "Asiad: Joseph, Ashwini clinch 400m hurdles gold for India". The Times of India. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  6. "Two memorable performances". Sportstar. 14 July 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  7. "Joseph sets National mark". The Hindu. 4 November 2006. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  8. "Abraham sets national mark". The Indian Express. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  9. "Mediocre, nothing more". Sportstar. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  10. "Joseph Abraham takes silver in 400m hurdles". The Hindu. 14 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
  11. "Pinki, Joseph win 400m titles". The Hindu. 7 October 2006. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
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