India’s latest sprint sensation Animesh Kujur continued his growing stature on the international circuit, finishing a creditable fourth in the Under-23 200m event at the Monaco Diamond League with a time of 20.55 seconds.
| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran
India’s latest sprint sensation Animesh Kujur continued his growing stature on the international circuit, finishing a creditable fourth in the Under-23 200m event at the Monaco Diamond League with a time of 20.55 seconds.
Running against a top field, the 22-year-old from Chhattisgarh held his own as Australian teen prodigy Gout Gout blazed to the top spot with 20.10s.
Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinathshipi (20.28s) and South Africa’s Naeem Jack (20.42s) completed the top three finishes.
Kujur, who holds the Indian national record in the 200m at 20.32s, has emerged as one of the country’s brightest sprint hopes in recent months.
Just last weekend, he smashed the national 100m record with a 10.18s dash at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meet in Greece, eclipsing the previous mark held by his relay teammate Gurindervir Singh.
Earlier this season, he also clocked 20.27s in Geneva — the fastest 200m ever run by an Indian.
Born in a tribal village in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, Kujur’s rapid rise has injected fresh hope into Indian men’s sprinting.
He now eyes the tough 20.16s qualifying mark for the World Championships in Tokyo this September while he has vowed to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m event.
Published – July 11, 2025 11:56 pm IST
