09-07-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Animesh Kujur hits a purple patch, rises as India's foremost athletics hope
New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) With several national sprinting records to his name and a slew of medals at international tournaments, Animesh Kujur has emerged as India's foremost athlete.
The 22-year-old recently set a new national record in 100 meters when he clocked 10.18 seconds in the 'Dromia International Sprint & Relays' meeting in Greece.
It was a historic achievement as he became the first Indian to run 100 meters under 10.20 seconds.
The Chhattisgarh lad has emerged as a prominent figure in Indian sprinting as he has several national records to his name.
Apart from the men's 100-meter record, he also holds the national records in 200 meters, and the 4 × 100 m relay.
Initially a football enthusiast, Animesh started pursuing athletics after becoming inspired by the legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
He subsequently joined the Odisha-Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre (HPC), where he was coached by Martin Owens.
Kujur seems to have hit a purple patch lately as in May he broke the 200m national record at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. He clocked a timing of 20.32 seconds to win the bronze medal in the event.
To add to this, he was also a part of the 4x100m relay team that etched a new national record of 38.69 seconds earlier this year.
Kujur was also part of the Indian men's 4x100m relay team that won the gold medal at the Taiwan Athletics Open in June 2025.
Now Kujur has set his sight on breaking the 20-second barrier in the 200 meters and consistently competing at the world stage.
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