Who is Animesh Kujur? The 23-year-old from Bastar who clocked the fastest 100m by an Indian overseas

Commonwealth Games-bound sprinter Animesh Kujur recorded the fastest-ever 100m time by an Indian on foreign soil after finishing second at the Fast Arms Fast Legs meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger event.

The 23-year-old clocked a personal best of 10.14 seconds in the final on Friday, improving on his 10.19-second effort in the heats earlier in the day.

His 10.14-second run is now the second-fastest time ever recorded by an Indian, behind Gurindervir Singh's national record of 10.09 seconds, set at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May.


With this performance, Animesh now owns three of the five fastest 100m timings by an Indian. He had previously held the national record in the event before Gurindervir broke it earlier this year.

Animesh, who primarily competes in the 200m and is the national record holder in that event, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut later this month in Glasgow.

From Bastar to India's fastest sprinters: Animesh Kujur's rise to the top

Born to two police officer parents in the conflict-prone Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, Animesh Kujur found his escape in sports from an early age. His mother was a hockey player, while his father was an athlete who later took up football, sparking Kujur's interest in athletics.

Every morning at 5 am, he accompanied his father to the training ground. While studying at the Army School in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Kujur developed a passion for football and became known among his friends for kicking the ball remarkably high. However, after finishing school, he had to give up football as he no longer had a team to play for.

On the advice of local coaches, he entered a 100m race and discovered his natural talent for sprinting. Although he initially struggled on the bends of the track, consistent training helped him improve, and within two years he won a junior gold medal.

Turning point under coach Martin Owens

Kujur's career took a significant turn in November 2022 when he began training under coach Martin Owens at the Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar.

Impressed by the world-class facilities, Kujur soon settled into a demanding training routine. His early workouts included repeated 300m runs, which he initially found intimidating. To cope with the challenge, he often arrived at the track before the other athletes to complete his sessions alone.

His lifestyle also underwent a transformation. Alongside intensive training, he worked with nutritionists to shift from a traditional diet of rice, dal and vegetables to a more structured nutrition plan suited for elite athletes.

Under Owens' guidance, Kujur quickly showcased his potential by winning the U-23 200m title at his first age-group championship.

National records and historic milestones

Kujur's breakthrough came at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, where he won the bronze medal in the 200m while setting a new national record of 20.32 seconds.

A few months later, at the Dromia International Sprints Meet in Greece, he clocked 10.18 seconds in the 100m, becoming the first Indian male sprinter to run the distance in under 10.20 seconds.

He also became the first Indian sprinter to compete in a Diamond League event, finishing fourth in the U-23 200m race at the Meeting Herculis EBS with a time of 20.55 seconds.

In August 2025, Kujur created another milestone by qualifying for the World Athletics Championships after recording 20.63 seconds in the 200m at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai. He became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Championships. Kujur has carried his impressive form into 2026. He won double gold in the 100m and 200m at the Indian Athletics Series before claiming the 200m title at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix in May.
In June, he was part of the Indian relay team that won bronze at the Asian Relay Championships in China. During the same month, he also secured a silver medal in the men's 200m with a time of 20.47 seconds.