For decades, Indian athletics has celebrated its distance runners, jumpers, and more recently, a javelin superstar in Neeraj Chopra. But when it came to sprinting, the story was largely one of unfulfilled potential. That narrative shifted dramatically in 2025 when 22-year-old Animesh Kujur from Chhattisgarh became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, set to be held in Tokyo this September.
This milestone is not just about one man’s qualification. It signals a new chapter in Indian track and field, a breakthrough that suggests sprinting in India may finally be ready to step out of the shadows.
Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers
Kujur’s season has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2025, he rewrote the national record books twice: first with a 20.40s run in the 200m at the Federation Cup in Kochi, eclipsing Amlan Borgohain’s mark, and then again with a 20.32s performance at the Asian Championships in Gumi, Korea, where he also clinched a bronze medal. His times placed him third on the Asian season’s leaderboard for the 200m, behind only world-class sprinters from Japan and China.
In July, his momentum carried over to Europe, where at the Dromia International in Greece, he stormed to a 10.18s finish in the 100m. That made him the fastest Indian male sprinter in history, breaking Gurindervir Singh’s 10.20s mark and, more importantly, becoming the first Indian man to dip under the 10.2-second barrier. While his official 200m best stands at 20.32s, Kujur also clocked a tantalizing wind-assisted 20.27s, which cannot be ratified as a record due to excessive tailwind (+2.3 m/s). Yet, the time remains the fastest ever run by an Indian and serves as a glimpse into his true potential.
The Road to Tokyo: Strategy over Standards
Qualifying for the World Championships is notoriously tough. The automatic entry standard for the men’s 200m in Tokyo was 20.16s a time no Indian had ever run legally. Instead, Kujur and his coach, UK-based Martin Owens, played the long game. They focused on the World Rankings system, which rewards athletes not only for fast times but also for consistency and strong placements in recognized meets. This meant Kujur’s season was carefully mapped out. From the National Games in Uttarakhand, where he opened with a 20.58s, to the Federation Cup, the Asian Championships, and a stint in Europe, every race was chosen to maximize points.
His 20.63s gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Chennai in late August was the final piece, consolidating his place inside the top 40 of the world rankings and securing one of the 48 available berths in the 200m. It was not an easy road. “We knew the automatic time would be a stretch for any Indian this year,” Owens explained in a recent interview. “The goal was to keep him consistent, keep him in big races, and make sure he was in the ranking zone when the window closed.”
That strategy worked. On August 24, as the qualification window shut, Kujur stood as India’s newest trailblazer.
From Bastar to the Big Stage
Kujur’s rise is also a story of geography and grit. He hails from Ghuitangar, a small village in Chhattisgarh, part of the Bastar region often associated with conflict rather than athletics. His parents, both police officers and former athletes themselves, encouraged his early forays into sport. He first made a mark in football before shifting to athletics after excelling in a school sprint race. His journey from dusty rural lanes to global arenas was shaped by institutions like the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and later by professional support from the Reliance Foundation, which provided scientific training and international exposure.
In 2024, Kujur began working with Martin Owens, whose influence has been transformative. Training camps in Switzerland and competitions in Europe have given Kujur not just speed but also confidence an essential ingredient when lining up against global names like Noah Lyles or teenage sensation Gout Gout.
A Bronze in Asia, and a Statement to the World
If breaking national records earned Kujur recognition at home, his bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi proved he belonged on the continental stage. His 20.32s run, coming against a field stacked with regional powerhouses, marked the first time an Indian male sprinter had medaled at a major Asian championship in the 200m. It was a breakthrough moment not just for Kujur but for Indian sprinting as a whole. “It showed we can compete at the Asian level in sprints,” said a senior Athletics Federation of India (AFI) official. “From there, the focus shifted to ensuring he made it to Tokyo.”
Kujur’s running style is built on a strong “push from the curve” and an ability to maintain form over the last 80 meters where many sprinters fade. His 100m breakthrough in Greece highlighted improved starts and block technique, areas that Owens and his team have drilled relentlessly. The key question now is: how fast can he go? His wind-assisted 20.27s suggests he is edging closer to the world standard.
Kujur’s qualification is not an isolated story. It comes against the backdrop of a broader renaissance in Indian athletics. Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic gold in 2021 showed Indians could be global champions in track and field. Since then, athletes like Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Amlan Borgohain (200m), and Jeswin Aldrin (long jump) have all raised the bar. What sets Kujur apart is that he represents a new frontier sprinting, long regarded as beyond India’s grasp. His success has the potential to inspire a generation of youngsters to take up sprinting with the belief that global finals, once unthinkable, are within reach.
In Tokyo, Kujur will be an outsider. His coach has set expectations realistically: the aim is experience, not medals. Running alongside the world’s best sprinters will be invaluable as he continues his climb. “There’s no pressure to perform right now,” Owens noted. “This is about exposure, learning to race in that atmosphere, and preparing for the future.” The long-term target is clear: Paris 2027 World Championships and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where Kujur and his team believe he can realistically make semifinals, perhaps even finals.
Animesh Kujur’s qualification for the World Championships is more than a ticket to Tokyo. It is a symbolic breakthrough, proof that India’s sprinting ambitions are no longer limited to hope but grounded in performance. From Bastar’s red-soil tracks to Europe’s fast lanes, his journey embodies the resilience of Indian sport and the quiet revolution that is reshaping athletics in the country. As he prepares to don the India vest in Tokyo, one thing is certain: Kujur has already changed the narrative. He is no longer just a national record holder or a continental medalist. He is the pioneer who proved that Indian sprinting belongs on the world stage.
