\u00a0On a hot Monday afternoon, Hassan Saaid was a blur to fellow participants as he effortlessly strode past them for a sprint double in the Indian Grand Prix-1 at the LNCPE, Kariyavattom.<\/p>\n
![\"Hassan](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/sport\/yjfmro\/article66646287.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/hassan.jpg\" "\\"Hassan")
<\/p>\n\nHassan Saaid who won a sprint double in Indian Grand Prix-1 in Thiruvananthapuram
\n| Photo Credit:
\nSpecial Arrangement\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The 100m field included Indian National record holder Amiya Kumar Mallick but Hassan shot off like a bullet from the blocks and in conditions that were far from being ideal for sprinting, won effortlessly. \u00a0Hassan was equally impressive while winning the 200m. <\/p>\n
Olympian Hassan is the pride of the small island nation of Maldives. A national record holder in both 100m (10.33s) and 200m (20.75s), Hassan is gearing up for the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Madagascar. Hassan was part of the seven-member athletics team from Maldives competing in the Indian Grand Prix races as part of their IOIG preparation. <\/p>\n
The Maldives athletes have been training in Bengaluru for the last six months under chief coach Ahammed Faail and his assistant Shifaz Rashid. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thankful to the Indian Government and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for extending full support and cooperation. We came with a 13-member contingent but only seven athletes took part in the first Indian Grand Prix. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are concentrating mostly on sprints and middle distance as we think we have a good chance of winning international medals in these events. We are still taking baby steps and hope to make an impact soon at continental and global meets. <\/p>\n
\u201cThough Hassan Saaid is our best-known athlete, we have a talented bunch and our government is taking every effort to provide training and exposure to them,\u2019\u2019 said Faail.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conditions were hot and there was a strong headwind but I am happy with the way I ran. I am working hard to improve my own national records and am happy with my progress so far. The target is to do well in IOIG in Madagasscar, \u2018\u2019 said Hassan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n