Kollam: It was a proud moment for the natives of Nilamel when Muhammad Anas Yahiya bagged Asian Games silver in men’s 400 meters in Jakarta finishing with a timing of 45.69 seconds.
Known as 'Nilamel Express', this young athlete has now become the third Indian athlete to qualify for the event at the Olympics after Milkha Singh (1956, 1960) and K.M. Binu (2004).
Yahiya, 23, of Anas Manzil at Valayidam in Nilamel is a sailor with the Indian Navy. With his sizzling victory at the Asian Games, the village is all set to felicitate him when he returns.
He had also qualified for the Rio Olympics in the 400-metre run. He had finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games earlier.
The Indian Navy selected him in May 2015 after he won silver in 4x400 metres relay in the National Games of that year.
He won a silver medal in 400-metre in his maiden Inter-Services Championship held at Hyderabad two months later after entering the service, and also silver in his first Senior National Athletics Championship at Kolkata in Sep 2015.
He completed his schooling in MMHS School in Nilamel and Mar Basil School in Kothamangalam.
He later joined Sri Krishna College in Guruvayur and won the Calicut University Championship twice and also bagged a silver medal in the Indian University Championship 2014.
He is the elder son of Yahiya and Sheena. His brother Muhammad Anees is a long jump national champion.
