Top Indian athletes specializing in the 400m event are gearing up for the Commonwealth Games, which commence on July 23, and the Asian Games scheduled for later this year. They anticipate that the competition in Glasgow will be more intense than what they expect in Aichi-Nagoya in September and October. The inclusion of athletes from Australia and England is expected to elevate the competitiveness of the races, providing valuable experience ahead of the Asian Games, as shared by the runners with SAI Media. India plans to send a 32-member track and field team to the shortened 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, according to a statement from SAI.

Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi, who will compete in both the men's 400m and the mixed 4x400m relay at the Commonwealth Games, expressed that the competition in Glasgow will be formidable, describing it as 'an ocean out there.' He emphasized the need for hard work to succeed, stating, 'The Commonwealth Games are challenging; winning is possible if we prepare well. These competitions are significant, and I see this as an opportunity to prove myself.' Vishal is heading to a government-sponsored international training camp in Spala, Poland, as part of a 60-member team, which includes 41 athletes and 19 coaches and support staff.

Statistics reveal why the Commonwealth Games present a greater challenge compared to the Asian Games. For instance, Yousef Asrafi from Saudi Arabia won the 400m at the 2023 Asian Games with a time of 45.55 seconds, while Muzala Samukonga of Zambia set a national record at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, clinching gold with a time of 44.66 seconds.

Jay Kumar, another 400m competitor, shared his thoughts on the difficulty of peaking for both the Commonwealth and Asian Games due to the short interval between the two events. He achieved a personal best of 45.47 seconds in the 400m at the Federation Cup last month. 'My primary focus this year is the Asian Games. The Inter-State and Federation Cup were crucial for my preparation. I will undergo a 45-day training camp in Spala, Poland, and assess my performance afterward. Winning medals at both events is challenging, especially since the Commonwealth Games typically see faster times in the 400m, around 43-45 seconds, compared to the Asian Games, where times are generally above 45 seconds in recent years,' Jay explained.

Dharmveer Choudhary, a silver medalist in the 4x400m men's relay at the 2025 Asian Championships, noted that training under Jamaican coach Jason Dawson at SAI NCOE Thiruvananthapuram has significantly improved his performance. He expressed gratitude towards the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and SAI for their unwavering support. 'Last year, I struggled to achieve good timings, with my best being 46.6 seconds. I needed to secure my spot in the national team for both the Commonwealth and Asian Games while enhancing my performance. Thanks to the AFI and my coach for believing in me despite my previous struggles. My current personal best is now 45.6 seconds, a full second faster than last season. I hope to make everyone proud at the Asian Games in Japan,' Dharmveer stated.