India’s national 200m record holder Animesh Kujur lit up the track at the AtleticaGeneve 2025, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level meet, with a breathtaking run of 20.27 seconds.
Though the wind reading of +2.3 m/s renders the performance ineligible as a new national record, it remains the fastest time ever run by an Indian over the distance under any condition.
The performance saw the 21-year-old finish 5th in his heat and 6th overall at the meet held at Stade de Genève, marking a spectacular start to his European season.
Airspeed Animesh: India’s Sprint Hope Flies Again
Nicknamed “Airspeed Animesh” for his elegant but explosive stride pattern, Kujur’s 20.27s sprint on Saturday puts him firmly in the spotlight as India’s most promising sprinter over 200 metres. The performance is faster than his official national record of 20.32s, clocked just three weeks earlier in a legal wind setting. However, due to World Athletics rules, only times with wind assistance not exceeding +2.0 m/s are eligible for record purposes.
Even so, the run was a powerful statement. Competing against a stacked international field, Kujur was up against the likes of Benjamin Richardson of South Africa, who won the race in 19.79s, and Xavi Mo-Ajok of the Netherlands, who finished second with 19.96s. Blessing Afrifa (Israel) also dipped under 20 seconds with a 19.99s performance.
Animesh held his own, surging through the bend with fluid form before powering down the straight to finish ahead of several European competitors including Onyema Adigida (NED) and Andrea Federici (ITA), underlining his place among the continent’s fastest.
Wind-Aided, But Not to Be Overlooked
While the wind gauge reading of +2.3 m/s means the 20.27s time won’t enter official record books, the performance cannot be dismissed. As many coaches and athletes will attest, it still reflects form, strength, and technical execution all areas that Kujur appears to be mastering in 2025.
The performance comes at a time when Indian athletics is seeking breakthroughs in sprint events at the international level. Historically, Indian sprinters have struggled to breach the sub-20.50s barrier consistently on the world stage. Kujur’s rapid progression since the start of the 2024 season offers a glimmer of hope that this trend is changing.
A Blistering Season So Far
Saturday’s run was a continuation of a breakthrough season for the Railways athlete. Animesh made headlines on May 31, 2025, when he broke the long-standing Indian national record in the 200m by clocking 20.32s in Bengaluru, under legal wind conditions. That time eclipsed Muhammed Anas Yahiya’s 20.63s mark from 2018 and has since stood as the new benchmark in Indian sprinting.
With Saturday’s run, Kujur now owns both the fastest legal and fastest overall 200m timings by an Indian athlete a rare distinction that speaks to his consistency and upward trajectory.
His 20.27s timing at Geneva, even if unofficial in record terms, would have placed him in medal contention at multiple continental events and meets across Asia in previous years. The sheer quality of the field at AtleticaGeneve also adds weight to his placing.
Coach’s Corner: Execution Over Records
Though records are often the most discussed aspect of a sprinting performance, Kujur’s team will be equally pleased with his execution, particularly on the curve. Running from lane five, he timed his steps to perfection, conserving energy early before unleashing his finishing kick in the final 80 metres.
Sources close to the sprinter suggest that Kujur’s European training base, with access to elite facilities and competition, has played a pivotal role in refining his race strategy. With the Asian Athletics Championships and World Championships qualification still on the horizon this season, every race now doubles as preparation for bigger stages.
What’s Next: Tokyo Window & Qualification Path
While the time won’t earn him automatic qualification points for the 2025 World Athletics Championships due to the wind factor, the ranking points from the AtleticaGeneve Bronze-level meet still count. As part of the World Athletics Continental Tour, these points will contribute to Kujur’s overall ranking important for Worlds pathway consideration going into the 2025 season.
Animesh is expected to compete in more European circuit meets over the next six weeks. With Tokyo 2025 in mind, each performance will be key for establishing his consistency around the 20.30 mark or better the level required to reach global semi-finals and finals.
Indian Sprinting Finds Its Face
Indian athletics has long awaited a male sprinter to rise to the occasion on the global stage. In Hima Das, Dutee Chand, and Amlan Borgohain, Indian sprinting has produced standout female and junior performances, but the senior men’s 200m had remained relatively underdeveloped.
Kujur’s emergence now fills that void. At 21, he combines raw pace with strong biomechanical technique and psychological calm under pressure. If he continues on this upward trend, he could become India’s first sub-20.20 runner in the coming years.
While the record books won’t show it, Animesh Kujur’s 20.27s in Geneva will go down as a major moment in Indian sprinting not for what it officially achieved, but for what it represents.
It is a declaration that Indian sprinting is no longer content with national dominance. With youth, speed, and confidence on his side, Animesh is looking to bridge the gap between promise and podiums on the global stage.
The season has only just begun but it’s already clear that Airspeed Animesh is on the runway to something special.
