Animesh Kujur's Historic 200m National Record

On April 24, 2025, Animesh Kujur, a 21-year-old sprinter from Odisha, etched his name into Indian athletics history by shattering the men’s 200m national record at the 28th National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Kochi. Clocking an astonishing 20.40 seconds, Kujur surpassed the previous record of 20.52 seconds set by Amlan Borgohain in 2022, securing the gold medal and qualifying for the Asian Athletics Championships. His remarkable achievement, coupled with a silver in the 100m earlier in the meet, marks him as one of India’s brightest sprinting talents.

The Record-Breaking Moment

The National Federation Senior Athletics Championships, held at Maharaja’s Stadium in Kochi, was a stage for extraordinary performances, but Kujur’s 200m run stole the spotlight. Running with confidence and rhythm, he powered through the bend and surged down the straight, finishing well ahead of a strong field that included Borgohain, who took silver with 20.80 seconds. Kujur’s time of 20.40 seconds not only broke the national record but also surpassed the Asian Championships qualifying standard of 20.53 seconds set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). His coach, Martin Owens, praised the competitive field, including athletes like Manikanta Hoblidhar, Raghul, and Borgohain, for pushing Kujur to his limit. “After the fantastic 100m on Monday, I knew something was going to happen in the 200m today,” Kujur said, reflecting on his performance.

Kujur’s 200m triumph was the highlight of a meet that saw other notable achievements. Tamil Nadu’s Praveen Chithravel equalled his own national triple jump record of 17.37m, qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Long jumper Shaili Singh broke a 23-year-old meet record with a 6.64m leap. However, Kujur’s record-breaking run, achieved in his pet event, captured national attention, with social media posts on X hailing him as “Mr. Consistent” and a “speed sensation.”

Click here to see Animesh breaking the record:

A Journey from Football to Sprinting Stardom

Animesh Kujur’s path to becoming India’s fastest 200m runner is a story of determination, discipline, and a pivotal career shift. Born on June 12, 2003, in Chhattisgarh, Kujur grew up in the Maoist-affected Bastar region, where his father, a former athlete turned footballer and deputy superintendent of police, and his hockey-playing mother instilled a love for sports. As a child, Kujur accompanied his father to the ground at the police staff quarters, waking up at 5 a.m. to train. Enrolled in a Sainik School in Ambikapur, 650 kilometers from home, he initially pursued football, playing as a forward. However, inspired by Usain Bolt, whom he admired even as a footballer, Kujur transitioned to athletics, finding his calling in sprinting.

A turning point came in 2022 at the National Open U-23 Championships in Bilaspur, where Kujur, then 19, won the 200m in 21.12 seconds. There, he boldly approached Martin Owens, a British coach at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre (HPC), asking to be trained. Despite not knowing Owens, Kujur’s physique and performance impressed the coach, who invited him for trials in Bhubaneswar. Since joining the HPC, Kujur has transformed into a disciplined athlete, with Owens refining his bend technique, start, and speed endurance. His body fat percentage, now around 7%, reflects a scientific approach to nutrition, moving from 10-12 rotis per meal to a balanced diet.

Kujur-sprinting-his-way-to-another-win

Building Toward the Record

Kujur’s rise has been meteoric. In 2023, he set a meet record of 20.74 seconds at the National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru, marking him as a contender for Borgohain’s national record. In 2024, he won the 200m gold at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar with a personal best of 20.62 seconds, becoming India’s second-fastest 200m runner. That same year, at the Trofeo de Atletismo Ciudad de Salamanca in Spain, he clocked 20.59 seconds (though wind-assisted) and ran a personal best of 10.27 seconds in the 100m, missing the national record by just 0.04 seconds. At the 2024 Indian Open U-23 Championships, he secured a sprint double, bettering his own 200m meet record with 20.65 seconds.

His 2024-2025 season continued to impress. At the All-India Inter-University Athletics Championships in December 2024, Kujur ran 20.57 seconds in the 200m, setting a meet record, though it wasn’t recognized by World Athletics. At the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand in February 2025, he won gold in the 100m (equaling the meet record of 10.28 seconds), 200m (20.58 seconds), and 4x100m relay, cementing his versatility. These performances-built momentum for his record-breaking run in Kochi, where he finally eclipsed Borgohain’s mark.

Animesh-Kujur-leading-a-race

Significance of the Record

Kujur’s 20.40-second 200m run is a landmark for Indian athletics, a sport often overshadowed by cricket and badminton. The previous record of 20.52 seconds, set by Borgohain, had stood for three years, and Kujur’s improvement by 0.12 seconds reflects his technical growth and competitive drive. While he fell short of the 2025 World Championships qualifying standard of 20.16 seconds—a challenging benchmark for Indian sprinters—his time secured a spot at the Asian Championships in May 2025, a platform to test himself against Asia’s best.

The record underscores the growing quality of Indian sprinting. Kujur’s performance, alongside Borgohain’s silver and a competitive field, signals a deepening talent pool. His success at the Odisha Reliance Foundation HPC, supported by coaches like Owens and James Hillier (who trains other top sprinters), highlights the impact of professional training systems. Social media buzz on X celebrated Kujur’s achievement, with fans noting his potential to inspire a new generation of sprinters.

Kujur’s record also carries personal significance. Hailing from a tribal family in Chhattisgarh and training in Odisha, he represents the aspirations of athletes from India’s heartland. His disciplined upbringing at Sainik School and admiration for Usain Bolt fuel his ambition to become the first Indian to break the 20-second barrier in the 200m and the 10-second barrier in the 100m, goals he aims to approach by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Kujur-posing-like-his-Idol-Usain-Bolt

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite his breakthrough, Kujur faces challenges. His start remains a weak point, as he noted after the National Games, where he relied on top-end speed to compensate. Competing against faster international runners is crucial, as he acknowledged in an interview with The Times of India, stating, “I have to compete with faster athletes. In India, there aren’t many competitors like that.” To address this, Kujur plans an exposure trip to Europe before the 2025 World University Games in Germany, training with sprinters who run near 10 seconds in the 100m.

The Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, while unrelated to athletics, has heightened security concerns in India, potentially affecting major events. However, no disruptions to athletics meets have been reported as of April 25, 2025. Administrative support also needs improvement, with fans on X occasionally criticizing the AFI for inconsistent backing of athletes.

Kujur’s immediate focus is the Asian Championships, where he aims to medal and further lower his 200m time. Long-term, his sights are set on the 2028 Olympics, where he believes his physical peak will align with rigorous preparation. With a personal best of 10.27 seconds in the 100m, he is also close to challenging Manikanta Hoblidhar’s national record of 10.23 seconds. His coach, Owens, remains optimistic, stating, “We’re just scratching the surface when it comes to ability.”

Conclusion

Animesh Kujur’s national record of 20.40 seconds in the 200m is a testament to his talent, hard work, and the support of a robust coaching system. From a football-playing schoolboy in Chhattisgarh to India’s fastest 200m runner, his journey embodies resilience and ambition. The record not only elevates Indian sprinting but also inspires young athletes to dream big. As Kujur prepares for international challenges, his pursuit of sub-20 and sub-10 barriers promises to keep him in the spotlight. With the right support and opportunities, this “sprinting sensation” could redefine India’s place in global athletics, carrying the hopes of a nation eager for track-and-field glory.