The second leg of the Indian Grand Prix (IGP-2) in Trivandrum delivered another thrilling day of athletics, and once again, Animesh Kujur stole the show with a stunning double in the men’s sprints.
The 22-year-old speedster continued his red-hot form, clinching gold in both the 100m and 200m events, cementing his position as one of India’s most consistent and exciting sprinters this season.
100m Sprint: Animesh Cruises in Race A with 10.31s
Animesh Kujur opened his IGP-2 campaign in emphatic fashion, winning the men’s 100m Race A in 10.31 seconds.
It marked his fourth sub-10.35s timing in just eight races this season — a level of consistency rarely seen among Indian sprinters. The Odisha athlete’s strong start and excellent drive phase helped him pull away from the field with ease, asserting his dominance in the short sprint.
His performance in Trivandrum follows up on a 10.30s dash at IGP-1 earlier this month, and with every race, Kujur is showcasing not just form but increasing race maturity — a crucial asset ahead of the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, where he will represent India in both the 200m and the 4x100m relay.
200m Sprint: Another Sub-21 for Animesh, Clocks 20.55s
Later in the evening, Animesh returned to the track for the 200m final — and delivered another superb performance. He clocked 20.55s to win the race comfortably, staying under the 21-second mark for the seventh time in eight races this season.
While his own national record of 20.40s, set just weeks ago, remains untouched, this run further establishes Kujur as India’s premier 200m runner at the moment.
Behind him, Vishal TK clocked a personal best of 21.06s to take silver, showing promising form heading into the peak of the season. Ragul Kumar claimed the third spot with a time of 21.10s, ensuring the 200m final had three athletes under 21.20s — a strong showing by domestic standards.
100m Hurdles: Nithya and Pragyan Tie in Style
The women’s 100m hurdles event saw a rare dead heat at the top, with both Nithya Ramraj and Pragyan Prashanti Sahu clocking 13.27 seconds. The timing was a season-best (SB) for both athletes and highlighted the competitive intensity in the women’s sprint hurdles category.
Nithya, one of the most consistent hurdlers in recent years, showed great rhythm and clearance, while Pragyan, who has been quietly building momentum this season, matched her stride for stride to finish with identical timings. This result adds excitement to the national scene, especially with both eyeing spots for the Asian meet.
400m Men: Rajesh Ramesh Returns in Style
In the men’s 400m, Rajesh Ramesh made a strong return to competitive action, stopping the clock at 45.77s to win the event. This was his first race of the 2025 season after a prolonged break, and the performance suggests that the Asian Games silver medallist is back in good shape.
Rajesh’s powerful second half and smooth transition phases reaffirmed why he remains a key figure in India’s 4x400m relay setup. His return boosts India’s quarter-mile depth as preparations intensify ahead of the Asian Championships and World Relays.
Teen Sensation Abinaya Rajarajan Shocks the Field
One of the biggest surprises of IGP-2 came from Abinaya Rajarajan, the reigning U-18 national champion, who won the Women’s 100m Race B with a blistering time of 11.55s — just 0.01s shy of her personal best.
In doing so, she outran a seasoned field that included Sneha SS, Nithya Gandhe, and veteran sprinter Srabani Nanda. Her fearless run and aggressive start made it clear that she belongs on the senior circuit and is a name to watch out for.
Already selected for India’s women’s 4x100m relay team for the upcoming Asian Championships, Abinaya’s breakout run in Trivandrum adds another dimension to a squad that is rapidly evolving and gaining depth.
India’s Sprint Engine Gathers Pace
With less than two months to go before the Asian Athletics Championships, India’s sprinters are peaking at the right time. Animesh Kujur’s consistency in the 100m and 200m continues to elevate expectations, while names like Vishal TK and Abinaya Rajarajan are emerging as genuine contenders in their respective events.
Rajesh Ramesh’s return in the 400m and the tight competition in the women’s hurdles suggest that multiple disciplines are showing upward trends — something Indian athletics fans have long hoped for.
The IGP-2 in Trivandrum was more than just a preparatory meet. It was a statement of intent from a group of athletes who are not just clocking fast times, but doing so consistently across different events.
With key competitions on the horizon, including the Asian Championships, the World Relays, and later the World Championships 2025, these results underline India’s potential for sprint and relay medals on the continental stage.
As the national calendar moves towards the Federation Cup and Inter-State Championships, the bar has been raised — and the chase to match or surpass Animesh Kujur’s blistering pace is on.
