Animesh Kujur, a 22-year-old sprinter from Ghuitangar village in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, made history. At the Dromia International Sprint Meet in Vari, Greece, he clocked 10.18 seconds in the 100-meter sprint — the fastest ever by an Indian athlete. He broke the previous national record of 10.20 seconds and became the first Indian to run under that mark.
A Journey from Tribal Heartland to International Tracks
Animesh’s story is nothing short of inspirational. Coming from a small tribal village, he overcame limited resources and lack of exposure to reach the world stage. His talent was recognized and nurtured at the Odisha Reliance Foundation High-Performance Centre, where he trained under sprint coach Martin Owens and improved his strength under Chris Wolley, a bobsleigh coach from the Winter Olympics.
Not Just One, But Multiple Records
Before creating history in the 100 meters, Animesh had already made waves by setting two national records in the 200 meters earlier this year — first at 20.40 seconds and then improving it to 20.32 seconds at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where he also won a bronze medal.
A Wave of Change in Indian Sprinting
Animesh’s victory is part of a bigger transformation in Indian athletics. In just a few months, national records in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100m relay have been broken. Better coaching, international exposure, and the rise of rural talent are reshaping India’s track and field future.
Looking Ahead
Animesh Kujur has already achieved what many thought was years away for Indian sprinting. Now, he has set his sights on breaking the 10-second barrier and making a mark at the World Championships and Olympics. With dedication, discipline, and the right support, India’s fastest man is only getting started.
