Career
He holds the current 400 metre hurdles national record of 49.51 seconds set during the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka on 26 August 2007. At Osaka, Abraham became the first Indian male athlete to clear the opening round of an event in the World Athletics Championships when he reached the 400m hurdles semifinals. Born in Kottayam district of Kerala, Abraham made a steady progress in intermediate hurdles.
His first sub-52 came in 2003 and in the following year he clocked a time of 51.98 seconds.
His best time in 2005 was 50.87 seconds. His first national record came at the 2006 National inter-State athletics championship in Chennai.
He broke the existing national record of 50.39 sesconds held by Patlavath Shankar with a time of 50.22 seconds. Joseph"s first sub-50 performance came in the Guwahati Asian Grand Prix circuit athletics in June 2007.
400m sprint
Abraham also competes in the 400m sprint.
His personal best for the 400 metres is 46.70 seconds set at the 2006 Open National Athletics Championships in New Delhi.