_at_the_Rhine-Ruhr_2025_FISU_World_University_Games.png) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 2 June 2003 Ghuitangar, Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, India[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Sainik School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 m, 200 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m: 10.18 NR (2025) 200 m: 20.32 NR (2025) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Animesh Kujur (born 2 June 2003) is an Indian sprinter who is the current national record holder in both the 100 metres and 200 metres events. In 2025, he made history by becoming the first-ever Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships.[2]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Animesh Kujur was born in Ghuitangar village in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. He attended Sainik School and later the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). Coming from a humble background, he initially balanced his training with his duties as an employee of the Chhattisgarh Forest Department. He eventually moved to Bhubaneswar to train at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre under coach Martin Owens.[3]
Career[edit | edit source]
Kujur rose to national prominence in 2023–2024, but his breakthrough year was 2025.
National Records and 2025 Season[edit | edit source]
In 2025, Kujur became the first Indian to run the 100m in under 10.2 seconds, clocking a national record of 10.18 seconds. In the same season, at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, he set a new national record in the 200m with a time of 20.32 seconds, earning a bronze medal.[4]
In August 2025, he officially confirmed his berth for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, becoming the first Indian male to achieve this in a short-sprint category.[5]
Personal Bests[edit | edit source]
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres | 10.18 NR | Chennai, India | 6 July 2025 |
| 200 metres | 20.32 NR | Gumi, South Korea | 31 May 2025 |
| 4×100 m relay | 38.69 NR | Chandigarh, India | 30 April 2025 |
Awards and Recognitions[edit | edit source]
- Biju Patnaik Sports Award (2024): Named "Sportsperson of the Year" by the Government of Odisha on National Sports Day (August 29, 2025) for his record-breaking feats.[6]
- **Best Athlete Award:** Conferred at various Inter-State and National Open Athletics Championships.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Animesh Kujur". www.orisports.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ↑ "India's fastest man! Animesh Kujur shatters national record in men's 100m". The Times of India. 6 July 2025.
- ↑ "Animesh Kujur Profile". Orisports. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Selvaraj, Jonathan (1 June 2025). "Animesh Kujur: The gold standard of Indian sprinting". Sportstar.
- ↑ "Animesh Kujur makes History, becomes first Indian Male Sprinter to qualify for World Championships". MyKhel. 24 August 2025.
- ↑ "Sprinter Animesh Kujur receives Biju Patnaik Sports Award". The New Indian Express. 30 August 2025.