Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi (born 17 December 2003) is an Indian track and field athlete specializing in 400 m. He hails from Tamil Nadu and is one of India’s top quarter-milers. He is the current national record holder in the men’s 400 m, clocking 45.12 in August 2025.[1]
 Vishal in 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  Indian | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 December 2003 Tamil Nadu, India | |||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 400 m, 4x400 m relay | |||||||||||||||||
| Coached by |  Jason Dawson | |||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | 400 m: 45.12 NR (2025) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and education
editVishal was born on 17 December 2003 in Tamil Nadu, India. He grew up in a modest background and was introduced to athletics during his school years, first competing in sprint events like the 100m and 200m before shifting to the 400m. His talent became evident at the state and university level, earning him opportunities to train professionally. Under coach Jason Dawson, Vishal refined his quarter-mile technique and began competing nationally in 2024 and internationally in 2025.[2]
Career
editVishal began his athletics journey competing in 200m sprint events before shifting his focus to the 400m in 2024. Within a short span, he established himself as India’s leading quarter-miler. At the Federation Cup National Championships in Bhubaneswar in April 2025, he secured gold in the 400m with a time of 46.19 seconds.
At the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, he finished fourth in the individual 400m with a time of 45.57 seconds, narrowly missing a podium finish. However, he played a decisive role in the relay teams, winning gold in the mixed 4×400m relay with a timing of 3:18.12 and silver in the men’s 4×400m relay.[2]
Vishal continued his upward trajectory in August 2025 at a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level meet in Bhubaneswar, where he won the 400m in 45.72 seconds. Later that month, at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Chennai, he broke the Indian men’s 400m national record with a time of 45.12 seconds, surpassing the long-standing mark of 45.21 set by Muhammed Anas in 2019.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Inter-State Athletics: Vishal TK smashes 400m National Record, Pooja wins 1500m gold". thebridge.in. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Vishal shows mental strength en route mixed relay gold in Asian Athletics". The Times of India. 29 May 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Vishal breaks men's 400m national record, hogs limelight at Nationals". www.ptinews.com. Retrieved 31 August 2025.