In a stunning display of speed and consistency, 22-year-old Animesh Kujur has officially become India’s fastest man, clocking an astonishing 10.18 seconds in the 100m sprint at the Dromia International Sprint & Relays Meet held in Vari, Greece.
With this performance, Kujur has not only rewritten the Indian record books but also reaffirmed his status as the new face of Indian sprinting.
The performance came at a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet, a highly competitive European fixture that regularly features top-tier international sprinters. In his heat, Kujur exploded out of the blocks and maintained perfect form through the finish line to clock a time that shaved 0.09 seconds off his previous personal best of 10.27 and surpassed the national record of 10.20 seconds set by Gurindervir Singh earlier this year at the Indian Grand Prix 1.
With this performance, Kujur is now the first Indian to hold both the national records in the 100m (10.18s) and 200m (20.32s) the latter of which he set earlier this season, marking a rare double for Indian athletics.
Sprinting into History
Animesh Kujur’s rise to the top of Indian sprinting has been anything but accidental. Hailing from Odisha, he has built a reputation for consistency, technical refinement, and raw pace. Known within athletics circles as “Mr. Consistent,” Kujur’s ability to deliver peak performances across both sprint distances has turned him into one of India’s most promising track athletes.
The 100m national record has long been viewed as a benchmark of sprinting excellence. Breaking it not only requires speed but flawless execution, something Kujur seems to have mastered in 2025. His 10.18s effort not only positions him ahead of every Indian sprinter in history but also within striking distance of the elusive sub-10 club a benchmark that defines the global elite in men’s sprinting.
Reaction from the Indian Sports Community
Kujur’s achievement has drawn praise from across the Indian sports ecosystem. Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages, including one from the Odisha government, which lauded his performance as a “shining reflection of dedication, discipline, and the unstoppable spirit of our youth.”
Context: How Fast is 10.18 Seconds?
While Animesh Kujur’s 10.18s time marks a tremendous achievement in the Indian context, it’s worth comparing it on the international scale. In the last three Olympic Games, bronze medal-winning times were 9.81s (Paris 2024), 9.89s (Tokyo 2020), and 9.91s (Rio 2016). Clearly, Kujur’s time still falls short of medal contention at the global level.
But what matters more is the trajectory. He’s only 22. With proper support, exposure to high-performance competitions, and scientific training, the dream of a sub-10 second sprint by an Indian once considered far-fetched now seems closer than ever.
The Journey So Far
Animesh’s breakthrough 2025 season has already seen him emerge as the top Indian sprinter in both the 100m and 200m. His 20.32s national record in the 200m, set earlier this year, was also a significant leap forward, making him the only Indian athlete to ever run both distances at world-class timings in the same season.
Coached by a team that emphasizes biomechanics, strength conditioning, and race strategy, Kujur’s improvement has been steady rather than sudden. His ability to peak in key competitions is evidence of maturity beyond his years.
With the Asian Athletics Championships, World Championships, and Olympic qualifiers lined up over the next 12 months, Kujur’s performances will be closely watched. His current times would make him a medal contender at the continental level and, if sustained, could help him qualify for major global finals.
There’s also growing hope that with continued support from bodies like SAI, AFI, and his state government, Kujur can be part of a long-term relay project with India slowly assembling sprint quartets for the 4x100m, an event where consistency and depth matter just as much as individual brilliance.
In a country that has historically dominated middle- and long-distance track events at the continental level, Animesh Kujur’s emergence in the sprints is a refreshing and powerful development. His national records in both the 100m and 200m represent not just individual glory, but the signs of a changing sprint culture in Indian athletics.
Kujur is young, hungry, and already the fastest Indian in history. But if his current form is anything to go by, he’s just getting started.
Animesh Kujur’s National Records:
- 100m – 10.18 seconds (Dromia, Greece – 2025)
- 200m – 20.32 seconds (Earlier in 2025 season)
India may not yet have a sprinter on the Olympic podium, but with talents like Animesh Kujur, the gap is closing one stride at a time.
