Qasemi clocked 8:11.83, surpassing the previous record of 8:17.19. At the end of the first two heats, he secured the top position, with the final rankings to be determined after the third and final group later in the day.
This achievement marks Qasemi’s fourth national record at the championships, following his record-breaking performances in the 200m freestyle and both the heats and final of the 400m freestyle.
MNA