Animesh Kujur has etched his name into Indian athletics history by becoming the first-ever male sprinter from the country to qualify for the World Athletics Championships. The 22-year-old from Chhattisgarh confirmed his Tokyo berth with a commanding gold in the men’s 200m at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai on Saturday, clocking 20.63 seconds.
This season has seen Kujur break both the 100m and 200m national records, alongside clinching a bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships and competing in the U23 200m at the Monaco Diamond League. His remarkable performances have steadily elevated him in the Road to Tokyo rankings, positioning him among the world’s emerging sprinting talents.
Reflecting on the season, coach Martin Owens said, “I am very happy with the long season. We didn’t expect to break the national record so early in the season. With his win he has consolidated his place further for the World Championships and it is a fantastic achievement.”
Kujur’s campaign began in February at the National Games in Uttarakhand. He subsequently competed in the Federation Cup at Kochi, breaking the 200m national record. At the Asian Athletics Championships in Korea, he further lowered the 200m record to 20.32 seconds. Between these feats, he was part of the quartet, including Gurindervir Singh, Manikanta, and Amlan Borgohain, that shattered the 4x100m relay national record with a time of 38.69 seconds.
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During his European tour, Kujur set a new 100m national record in Dormia with 10.18 seconds and raced in the U23 category at the Monaco Diamond League before returning to India for the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze meet in Odisha and the Inter-State Championships.
Despite this string of accomplishments, Owens emphasised measured expectations for Tokyo. “It has been a successful season for him. He broke individual national records and was part of the relay team also. So, I see going to Tokyo as a bonus,” he told the media. “There is no expectation on him to perform there. He is going just for the experience, to get a feel on how it is to race at the World Championships and rub shoulders with the greats of the game. When he goes next time, then there should be expectations.”
Looking ahead, Owens added, “Right now, the plan is to get some rest and probably one week camp before the Worlds. We had a good training in Switzerland where we worked on strength and conditioning, so the idea is to keep him fresh when we land in Tokyo.”
Kujur’s historic qualification signals a watershed moment for Indian sprinting, highlighting the rise of a new generation ready to compete on the global stage.
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