Manjit's timing would have placed him

eighth in the Rio final.

The slowest timing to win a bronze in the last five Olympics is 1:45.16 at Sydney 2000.

Indians are yet to go below 1:45. All eight athletes who qualified for the Rio final clocked below 1:45 in the semifinals.

Manjit’s performances plateaued after early promise, but he has blossomed again to achieve a personal best and Asian Games glory. His days as a pacemaker are now over and success could spur him on to be the best athlete he can be.