K. T. Irfan

{{short description|Indian racewalker}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| honorific_prefix = Naib Subedar

| name = Irfan Kolothum Thodi

| image = Irfan Kolothum Thodi 2013.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname = Irfan Kolothum Thodi

| nicknames =

| nationality = Indian

| sport = Athletics

| event = Racewalking

| club =

| collegeteam =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|02|08}}

| birth_place = Malappuram, Kerala, India

| residence = Kuniyil, Kizhuparamba

| retired =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

| weight = 65 kg

| country = India

| pb = 10 km: 40:10
(London 2012)
20 km: 1:20:21 NR
(London 2012)

| medaltemplates =

| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes

| allegiance = {{Flag|India}}

| branch = {{Army|India}}

| serviceyears =

| rank = 30px Naib Subedar

| unit =

}}

}}

Naib subedar Irfan Kolothum Thodi (born 8 February 1990) is an Indian athlete and Indian Army junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) from Malappuram, Kerala.{{cite web|title=Irfan qualifies for Olympics in 20km walk.He completed the walk by touching the finish line at 10th position.|url=http://www.dailysports.co/irfan-qualifies-for-olympics-in-20km-walk-2/|publisher=dailysports.co|accessdate=2 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329093542/http://www.dailysports.co/irfan-qualifies-for-olympics-in-20km-walk-2/|archive-date=29 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

Irfan{{cite news|title=Irfan Thodi|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/london-olympics-2012/olympics-2012-teamindia/irfanthodi.cms|accessdate=19 July 2013|newspaper=The Times of India}} had competed in the Federation Cup at Patiala, clocking a personal best of 1:2:09 in 2012. At the London 2012 Olympics, he set the Indian national record in the 20 km walk with a timing of 1:20:21 and ranked 10th. This was also the first time, since Zora Singh's 8th position finish in Roma 1960, that any of the Indian track and field athletes had finished in the top 10 at the Olympics. He did not participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics though he had qualified, owing to a stress fracture.In Tokyo Olympics 2020, he finished a disappointing 51st with a timing of 1:34:41.

In March 2013, Irfan finished 5th in the IAAF World 20 km Race Walking Challenge event held at Taicang, China.

KT Irfan qualified for Tokyo Olympics in the race walking event of athletics after finishing fourth in the 20 km event at the Asian Race Walking Championships{{Cite web|date=March 19, 2017|title=K T Irfan wins bronze in Asian 20km Race Walk Championships|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/k-t-irfan-wins-bronze-in-asian-20km-race-walk-championships-892973-2017-03-19|access-date=2021-07-26|website=India Today|language=en}} in Nomi, Japan. KT Irfan was the first Indian from athletics to book a spot in the Tokyo Olympics.{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2019|title=Race walker KT Irfan first Indian from athletics to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/athletics/story/race-walker-kt-irfan-athletics-2020-tokyo-olympics-qualification-1480157-2019-03-17|access-date=2021-07-26|website=India Today|language=en}} He finished 51st in the event.