Animesh Kujur Creates History, Becomes First Indian Male Sprinter To...

Last Updated:August 24, 2025, 10:34 IST

Animesh Kujur becomes the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, breaking national records.

Animesh Kujur will take part in the World Athletics Championships

Asian Championships bronze medallist sprinter Animesh Kujur has created history to become the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, in what has come as a massive breakthrough for Indian athletics and its representation on one of the biggest stages.

Animesh recorded a time of 20.63 seconds at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships, boosting his position in the Road to Tokyo rankings and putting him on track to become the first Indian male sprinter to compete in the World Championships.

This season, Animesh has broken national records in both the 100m and 200m, bagged a bronze at the Asian Athletics Championships and competed in the U23 200m at the Monaco Diamond League.

“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," Animesh’s coach Martin Owens was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 

India’s first representation at the World Athletics Championships was through race-walker Siri Chand Ram, a 1982 Asian Games gold medallist, and former long-jumper Mercy Kuttan, in the inaugural edition in 1983 in Helsinki.

Animesh kicked off his season in February by competing at the National Games in Uttarakhand. After the National Games, he competed in the Federation Cup in Kochi, where he shattered the 200m national record.

At the Asian Athletics Championships in Korea, Animesh improved the 200m national record to 20.32 seconds. 

In the meantime, Animesh joined Gurindervir Singh, Manikanta and Amlan Borgohain to break the 4x100m relay national record, clocking 38.69 seconds.

After that, Animesh embarked on a European stint, breaking the 100m national record in Dormia with a time of 10.18 seconds.

Animesh competed in the U23 race at the Monaco Diamond League before returning to India for the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze meet in Odisha and the Inter-State Championships.

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First Published:

August 24, 2025, 10:34 IST

News sports Animesh Kujur Creates History, Becomes First Indian Male Sprinter To...

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