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News18
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Animesh Kujur Becomes The First Indian Sprinter In The World To...
Last Updated: Animesh logged an impressive effort of 20.55s in the U23 200m event to finish fourth at the Monaco Diamond League. Indian athlete Animesh Kujur scripted history by becoming the first Indian sprinter to compete at a Diamond League event with his participation in the U23 200m race at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday. Animesh logged an impressive effort of 20.55s to finish fourth at the Meeting Herculis EBS to extend his strong showing this year. The 22-year-old, who trains at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar, has had a sensational season—setting multiple national records across events. The sprinter from Chhattisgarh's Ghuitangar village timed 10.18s in 100m, wind-assisted 20.27s and a standalone 20.32s in 200m and a time of 38.69 s in the 4x100m relay since the beginning of the year. Animesh's Recent Form Animesh recently shattered the 100m national record at the Dromia International Sprints Meet in Greece, becoming the first Indian man to dip under 10.20s. He clocked 10.18s, surpassing the previous mark of 10.20s set by fellow Reliance Foundation athlete Gurindervir Singh. Earlier this year, he also clinched bronze in the 200m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. Animesh is currently on a 6-week training-cum-competition exposure trip in Europe with his coach Martin Owens, Head Coach at the Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre, and physiotherapist Jayesh Bane. The team has established their training base at the Swiss Olympic Centre in Magglingen and has competed in high-quality meets in Geneva and Athens so far. Looking ahead, Animesh will compete at the Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 15th July. Following that, he will represent India at the World University Games in Germany in the 200m and 4x100m events. Monaco Diamond League The Monaco Diamond League, held at the Stade Louis II, is renowned as one of the world's most prestigious athletics meets. This year's event featured nine Paris 2024 Olympic Champions, including sprint legends Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, along with pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis. Lyles returned to the track in emphatic fashion as he blazed to the finish line in the 200m event to clinch the top spot, while Julian Alfred raced to the top podium place in the 200m event. Lyles registered an effort of 19.88sec to edge out Letsile Tebogo, while Alfred clocked 10.79sec to pip Jacious Sears in the women's category. Dutch athlete Femke Bol clinched the top spot in the women's 400m hurdles with her maiden win at the principality as she edged out American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with a time of 51.95sec. view comments First Published: July 12, 2025, 10:13 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
a day ago
- Sport
- First Post
India's Animesh Kujur makes history, finishes 4th in Monaco Diamond League under-23 200m event
Fastest man of India, Animesh Kujur made history by becoming the first Indian sprinter to compete at Diamond League. Kujur finished 4th in in Monaco Diamond League under-23 200m event. read more India's Animesh Kujur becomes first Indian sprinter to compete at the Diamond League. Image: @India_AllSports India's fastest man, Animesh Kujur, registered his name in the history books. On Friday, Kujur became the first Indian sprinter to compete at a Diamond League event. He participated in the U23 200m race at the Meeting Herculis EBS. He notched an impressive 20.55s to finish fourth, continuing his breakout 2025 season. India's Animesh Kujur makes history The 22-year-old sprinter, who hails from Ghuitangar village in Chhattisgarh, has had a sensational season—setting national records in the 100m (10.18s), 200m (20.27s (w), 20.32 s) and 4x100m relay (38.69 s). The Monaco Diamond League is one of the world's most prestigious athletics meets, and this year's event at the Stade Louis II featured nine Paris 2024 Olympic Champions, including sprint legends Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, and pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | Animesh is the national record holder as well Last week, Animesh shattered the 100m national record at the Dromia International Sprints Meet in Greece, becoming the first Indian man to dip under 10.20s. He clocked 10.18s, surpassing the previous mark of 10.20s set by fellow Reliance Foundation athlete Gurindervir Singh. Earlier this year, he also clinched bronze in the 200m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. Animesh is currently on a 6-week training-cum-competition exposure trip in Europe with his coach Martin Owens, Head Coach at the Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre, and physiotherapist Jayesh Bane. The team has set up their training base at the Swiss Olympic Centre in Magglingen and competed in high quality meets in Geneva and Athens so far. Moving forward, Animesh will be in action at the Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland on 15th July. He will then be representing India at the World University Games in Germany in the 200m and 4x100m events.
India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
Animesh Kujur, India's fastest man, misses podium at Monaco Diamond League by a whisker
India's fastest man, Animesh Kujur, missed the podium at the Monaco Diamond League by just 0.13 seconds. Participating in the men's U23 200m final, Animesh clocked a time of 20.55 seconds, falling just short of his personal best of timings were affected by a strong headwind at Monaco, which blew at -1.9 m/s. Animesh finished fourth in the race, behind Australian prodigy Gout Gout, who clocked a time of 20.10, once again just short of his best time of 20.02. advertisementBotswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi won silver, while South Africa's Jack Naeem clinched the bronze medal. Kujur finished just behind Naeem, finishing 0.132 seconds behind the athlete's 20.42 seconds. Recently, Animesh Kujur smashed the 100m national record with an incredible time of 10.18 seconds at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece. Sprinting in the second heat of the competition, the 22-year-old Kujur became the first-ever Indian to register a sub-10.20 second time in the 100m, bettering Gurindervir Singh's earlier national record of 10.20 seconds at the meet in Vari, a suburb of the Greek capital currently holds both the 100m and 200m national records. He had clocked 20.32 seconds in the men's 200m final of the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea in May to break his own previous national mark of 20.40 seconds, set at the Federation Cup earlier in the year.- Ends
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
From Chhattisgarh's tribal village to global track: Jashpur's Animesh Kujur becomes India's fastest man
Animesh Kujur RAIPUR: In a story that reads like a sports fairy tale, 22-year-old Animesh Kujur sprinted his way from the rustic fields of Ghuitangar village in Chhattisgarh's tribal Jashpur district to the international tracks of Greece, shattering a national record on July 5, at the Dromia International Sprint Meet in Vari, Greece, clocking an astonishing 10.18 seconds in the 100-meter dash — the fastest ever recorded by an Indian athlete. Though he finished third behind competitors from South Africa and Oman, the timing set a new national record, breaking the previous mark of 10.20 seconds, and announced India's arrival on the global sprinting map. Kujur, 22, who is now also serving as forest guard in state forest department, started off as a football player, when his speed was first caught the eye of a local coach during a state-level under-18 athletics tournament in Raipur. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated Animesh warmly, calling his achievement 'a moment of immense pride' for the state and the nation. 'Animesh's historic accomplishments symbolize the power of belief and determination. His journey from a small tribal village to international glory will inspire millions of young athletes,' he said. 'I Didn't Understand What 10.18 Meant at First' Reflecting on his record-breaking run, Animesh humbly recalls, 'When I was told I ran 10.18 seconds, I didn't understand its significance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure your family's future! ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo It was only after seeing it on TV and newspapers that I realized I had made history for India.' Animesh credits his admission to Sainik School Ambikapur as a turning point in his life. 'The discipline and encouragement there changed my outlook,' he says. His father, Amrit Kujur, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, shares, 'Getting into Sainik School was like a dream come true. That place instilled the focus and resilience he needed.' His first coach Dinesh Tandi told TOI, 'Recognizing Animesh Kujur's immense potential after initial performances in 2019, a giant foundation, known for promoting top-level athletes, selected Kujur for specialized training at their Odisha center in Bhubaneswar. Under the mentorship of expert coach Martin Owens, Kujur refined his technique and fitness, transforming from a raw tribal talent into a national sprinting sensation.' 'His parents are both police officers, which instilled discipline in him early,' said the coach. 'Animesh was bright since his childhood, we motivated him, got him admitted to engineering studies in Raipur, and trained him rigorously. Soon, Animesh broke the national record for 200 meters at the Under-23 Nationals in Bilaspur, clocking 21.12 seconds,' said Animesh's father Amrit Kujur. From winning five gold medals in district-level events spanning sprints and jumps to competing nationally wearing professional spike shoes for the first time, Animesh's journey is a testament to perseverance. Jashpur's remote, forested terrain is not the usual breeding ground for international sprinters. Yet Animesh has shown that with the right support and opportunities, talent from India's most marginalized regions can shine on the world stage. In 2022, he took up a job as a forest guard in Jashpur's Forest Department, balancing his career with relentless training. Now, foreign coaches and athletics experts are closely watching his progress, marking him as a future medal contender in global events. The Road Ahead With national and international records now under his belt, Animesh Kujur is eyeing bigger stages, including the Olympic Games. His story is a powerful reminder: talent combined with opportunity can break all barriers, whether economic, geographic, or social. From barefoot runs on muddy village paths to standing tall on global podiums, Animesh Kujur's sprint is much more than a race, it's a beacon of hope and a testament to the resilience of Indian youth.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘I posted about it on my Instagram first': Animesh Kujur reacts after breaking the national record in men's 100m sprint
At just 22, Animesh Kunjur has sprinted his way into Indian athletics history. Over the weekend, at the at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Vari, Greece, the young sprinter from Chhattisgarh clocked 10.18 seconds in the 100m — a time that not only smashed the previous national record but also earned him a new title: India's fastest man. Animesh Kujur after breaking the national record in men's 100m sprint 'Honestly, I didn't realise I had broken the record at first,' he tells us, still riding the high of the achievement. 'I knew I had run a strong race and thought I was somewhere around 10.2. When my coach confirmed it was 10.18, I was shocked. The first thing I did? I pinned it to my Instagram profile,' he laughs. Animesh isn't new to rewriting record books. Just last month, he set the national 200m record with a stunning 20.32-second finish at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, clinching a bronze medal despite battling a fever and chest infection. He's also part of the record-holding 4x100m relay team, making him a triple national record holder. 'It feels surreal (to be a triple national record holder). It was only during the pandemic, that I realised my passion for athletics, and all I have ever wanted to do since then is do well, and make everyone around me proud of me,' he says. With his calm demeanour and clear focus, it's no surprise that Animesh is setting his sights higher. 'The World Championships are next. I want to test myself against the best — not just to participate, but to truly compete,' he says. Does the India's fastest man tag add pressure? 'A little, maybe' he admits, but more than that, Animesh is humbled by the tag. 'It's also a privilege. To see so many people refer to me as India's fastest man is honestly a dream come true and a validation of all the hardwork I have put in so far. It's motivation. Every time I step onto the track, it spurs me on to do even better," he ends.
