Gold Rush For India! Animesh Kujur, Mohammed Afsal Soar at Saudi Athletics Grand Prix

Last Updated:May 16, 2026, 12:35 IST

Animesh Kujur and Mohammed Afsal starred for India at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix, clinching gold medals in Riyadh with commanding performances.

Indian national record holders Animesh Kujur and Mohammed Afsal demolished the rest of the field, as both runners delivered gold-medal performances at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Riyadh on Friday.

Competing at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Stadium, both athletes topped their respective events in a strong outing for India at the Bronze-level World Athletics Continental Tour meet.

Afsal Holds Firm In 800m

Mohammed Afsal produced a composed run to clinch the men’s 800m title in 1:48.24, edging out South Africa’s Christopher Swart (1:48.50) and Werner Gouws (1:48.75).

The 30-year-old middle-distance runner continues to build momentum after a remarkable 2025 season in which he shattered the Indian national record with a timing of 1:44.93 in Poland.

Afsal, who also claimed silver at the 2023 Asian Games, held off a late challenge from the South African duo in the closing stretch.

Animesh Continues Sprint Surge

Meanwhile, India’s fastest man, Animesh Kujur, added another international title to his growing resume by winning the men’s 200m in 20.77 seconds.

The 22-year-old finished ahead of Great Britain’s David Harrison (20.87s) and Toby Harries (21.01s) to continue his breakout rise in world sprinting.

Earlier in the day, Kujur also impressed in the men’s 100m, clocking 10.44 seconds to finish second behind Harrison, who narrowly took the win in 10.42s.

Former Indian national record holder Gurindervir Singh also clocked 10.44s but had to settle for third after a photo finish.

Kujur currently holds India’s national records in both sprint events. Last year, he ran 10.18s in Greece to break the 100m record before later setting a new 200m national mark of 20.32s at the Asian Athletics Championships.

He arrived in Riyadh in red-hot form after sweeping both the 100m and 200m titles at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi last month.

Elsewhere, M Krishik secured third place in the men’s 110m hurdles with a timing of 13.90s, while India’s men’s 4x100m relay team claimed victory in 40.49s ahead of hosts Saudi Arabia.

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