Athletics Fiji is proud to confirm that national middle- and long-distance champion Yeshnil Karan has been selected to represent Fiji at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he will compete in the men’s 1500 metres.
Yeshnil’s selection crowns a period of exceptional performances on both the regional and international stage. He holds three national records in the 5,000m, 10,000m and Half Marathon and ranks second all-time in Fiji in the 1,500m, 3,000m and 3,000m Steeplechase. In 2025, he achieved a clean sweep of the number one national ranking across six events in the 1500m, 3,000m, 3,000m Steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m and Half Marathon.
His recent performances include a Half Marathon record of 1:07:14 at the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon Festival, a national 5,000m record of 14:22.50 and a 10,000m record of 30:19.92, breaking a 54-year-old record. These results were achieved in high-quality fields in Australia within the official qualification period, alongside personal bests in the 1,500m (3:51.14), 3,000m (8:17.44) and 3,000m Steeplechase (9:02.08).
Regionally, Yeshnil is the Pacific’s top-ranked athlete in six events, a dominance built on tactical racing ability, speed endurance and proven championship composure. He is the only current Fijian athlete to have won gold medals at three consecutive Pacific Games cycles with a total of six gold medals across the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, 2023 Pacific Games and 2025 Pacific Mini Games.
Across the World Athletics rankings, in both the one-athlete-per-country and three-athlete-per-country categories, Yeshnil Karan’s four best events each feature among Fiji’s highest-ranked performances, reflecting exceptional range, versatility and consistency at the highest level of international competition.
What makes Yeshnil’s achievements even more remarkable is his journey. Based for much of the year in Tavua, he trains without a proper track, training squad or on-site coach. Through discipline, self-motivation and strategic stints in Australia’s high-performance environments, he has prepared himself to compete with the best in the world.
His selection is not only a recognition of talent, but also of loyalty, resilience, and a sustained commitment to representing Fiji. The World Athletics Championships will provide him with the opportunity to test himself against the very best in global competition, gaining valuable experience ahead of future Olympic cycles.
Athletics Fiji President, Master Joji Liga, said that “Yeshnil’s selection is a proud moment for Fiji Athletics and for our nation. His achievements are the result of dedication, hard work, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. We are confident he will represent Fiji with pride, humility and determination in Tokyo, and his performance will inspire many young athletes to follow in his footsteps.”
Athletics Fiji congratulates Yeshnil Karan on his selection and wishes him every success as he prepares to wear the national colours in Tokyo with pride, determination and the spirit of true sportsmanship.