Animesh Kujur Breaks Barriers and Records: Bronze for India in Men’s 200m at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025
Indian athletics witnessed a seismic moment on the track in Gumi, South Korea, as Animesh Kujur stormed his way into the history books, clinching a bronze medal in the men’s 200m at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025. With his breathtaking sprint of 20.32 seconds, Kujur not only claimed the bronze but also shattered his own national record, previously set at 20.40s in April this year.
This medal holds special significance—India’s first in the men’s 200m at the Asian Championships since Dharambir Singh’s bronze in 2015, and only the second ever. For a nation still developing its sprinting culture, this performance marked the arrival of a new standard-bearer.
The Build-Up: Can Animesh Break the Barrier?
Heading into the final, the buzz around Kujur was loud and justified. After all, he had entered the championships with the fastest season-best time (20.40s), ahead of his competitors. His closest rival on paper was Japan’s Towa Uzawa, the reigning Asian champion and Paris 2024 Olympic semifinalist, whose best this year stood at 20.62s.
It wasn’t just about statistics. Kujur had been knocking on the door of greatness all season long. He had already broken the national record once at the Federation Cup, had gone under 20.65s multiple times in 2024 and 2025, and was showing the sort of form that made him a genuine medal contender—not just a promising name.
The Race: Delivering on the Biggest Stage
When the gun went off, Kujur exploded off the blocks with purpose. He maintained a low, driving form through the curve and attacked the home straight with fearlessness. Though he couldn’t catch Uzawa and the eventual gold medalist from Thailand, Kujur ran a race of supreme control and pace to take bronze and set a new national record of 20.32s.
What stood out was not just the time—but the confidence with which he ran. For the first time in years, an Indian male sprinter looked not just competitive but at ease among Asia’s best in the 200m.
The Journey: From Chasing Times to Making History
To fully appreciate this breakthrough, one must trace back the timeline:
- In 2018, Muhammed Anas Yahiya set a then-best of 20.63s in Czech Republic.
- Four years later, in 2022, Amlan Borgohain broke that with a 20.52s run at the Federation Cup.
- Come April 2025, Animesh Kujur, just 21, stormed past that with a 20.40s at the Federation Cup, a performance that served notice of the shift underway in Indian sprinting.
- And now, at the Asian Championships, Kujur bettered his mark again with a 20.32s, winning India a rare 200m medal.
It is a progression that speaks volumes—not just about individual effort, but about the systems slowly coming into place, the right coaching, and athletes now daring to believe they belong.
From Odisha Roots to Continental Glory
Animesh Kujur’s story is one of steady evolution. Hailing from Odisha, Kujur has developed into a national asset under the guidance of top coaches at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre, led by head coach Martin Owens and a team that includes foreign and Indian sprinting experts. Specially James Hiller
“Animesh is incredibly coachable and focused,” Owens said after the race. “He’s only scratching the surface of his potential. The way he executed today’s race shows he’s ready for bigger stages.”
Kujur’s earlier performances, including 20.57s at the All India Inter-University Meet and two 20.65s runs at national competitions, hinted that a sub-20.50 was imminent. But few expected him to deliver two national records and an Asian medal within the same season.
What Lies Ahead: Eyes on Europe and Bucha
Following this continental success, Animesh will now head to Taiwan and then embark on a European circuit, competing in Geneva, Monaco, and Athens. These races will be crucial tune-ups ahead of the World University Games in Bucha, Germany, where Kujur is expected to be among India’s top medal hopefuls.
The big stage no longer looks intimidating for Animesh—it looks like a natural next step.
India’s Sprinting Revolution in Motion
Kujur’s success isn’t isolated. It reflects a larger shift:
- In 2015, Dharambir Singh’s bronze was a flash in the pan.
- In 2022, Amlan Borgohain ignited the fire with his national record.
- In 2025, Animesh Kujur is turning that fire into a movement.
From Anas to Amlan to Animesh, the baton has been passed—not just of times, but of belief. Kujur’s medal isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s symbolic of India’s arrival in sprinting events long dominated by East Asian and West Asian nations.
And with athletes like Animesh now stepping onto podiums, this arrival no longer feels like a fluke—it feels inevitable.
A Bronze Today, Gold Tomorrow?
Animesh Kujur has reignited Indian sprinting hopes and put the men’s 200m back on the Asian athletics map. His journey from promising junior to record-breaking senior is an inspiring tale of ambition, structure, and execution.
The question now is: can he carry this momentum into the World University Games, the 2026 Asian Games, and maybe even the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
If today’s race is any indication, India’s sprinting future is not only alive—it’s accelerating.
