YESHNIL Karan will make his World Athletics Championships debut in the 1500m, adding another milestone to a remarkable career that already includes dual gold at the Pacific Mini Games, triple gold at the Pacific Games, and national records in the 10,000m, 5000m, and half marathon.
Karan’s journey began with a simple love for running that grew into a lifelong dream of representing Fiji on the world stage, with his eyes now firmly set on a future Olympic appearance.
“From a young age, I loved athletics, and that passion has grown into a strong motivation to chase my dreams,” he said.
Representing Fiji and the Pacific is a source of immense pride for Karan.
“It’s one of the greatest honours of my life. This upcoming World Athletics Championships will be my first, and I know it will be a memory I’ll carry with me forever.”
The road to Budapest has been anything but easy.
Based mostly in Tavua, Karan balances long hours on the family farm with training sessions on the Tavua College grounds or even along busy highways — often without access to a proper track.
Heavy flooding during the rainy season has made training even more challenging. Still, his determination has carried him through, with national records set earlier this year in Australia and valuable training stints alongside elite middle-distance runners in Brisbane and Adelaide.
The birth of his second child earlier this year added another layer to his balancing act. For weeks, Karan trained alone in Fiji before rejoining high-performance camps in Australia, working with the likes of Matthew Clarke and Peter Bol.
“It hasn’t been the ideal build-up, but I’ve stayed focused, worked hard, and put myself in the best possible position to compete well,” he said.
Karan expressed deep gratitude to those who have supported his journey.
“I’m incredibly proud to be the first in my family to represent Fiji. I want to sincerely thank the Fijian Government, Athletics Fiji, my coaches, my host family, training partners, friends, and the wider Fijian and Australian communities.
A special thanks goes to my wife and my parents for the sacrifices you continue to make. Your belief in me means everything.”
Looking ahead, his main target is to run a personal best in the 1500m while gaining valuable experience against the world’s best, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Peter Bol, and Kenya’s renowned middle-distance stars.
Off the track, Karan is a proud father of two boys, a role that fuels his drive.
“Balancing family responsibilities with international-level training has been a big sacrifice, but it motivates me even more,” he explained.
He hopes his story inspires young Fijian and Pacific athletes to dream big.
“My advice is simple: never give up. There will always be challenges, but believe in yourself and trust in God. Success takes time, and what matters most is giving a little more than your best every time. To the youth of Fiji and the Pacific — never lose hope, keep striving, and always back yourself. Vinaka vakalevu and thank you, everyone.”
