“I want to hit 10-flat in 2026,” Animesh Kujur told India Today during his off-season. It is not something he has spoken about publicly before.
But after the kind of year he has had, Animesh knows that dreaming quietly is no longer enough. 2025 was the breakthrough year for Indian sprinting’s newest standard-bearer.
Animesh Kujur’s speed turned heads, his timings rewrote national records, and suddenly Indian sprinting had a new name at its centre. The 22-year-old finished the season as the fastest man in the country, clocking 10.18 seconds in the 100 metres and 20.32 seconds in the 200 metres—his preferred event. Meet after meet, race after race, he kept stepping up.
Despite taking to sprinting later than most, Animesh’s rise has been steady rather than sudden. Those who have followed his journey closely knew 2025 was not a freak spike but the natural result of sustained progress.
From breaking national records multiple times to competing on the U23 Diamond League circuit and running the heats at the World Athletics Championships, Animesh ticked off milestones that most Indian sprinters dream of across an entire career. There were moments of awe too—meeting his idol Usain Bolt, watching the world’s best from close quarters—experiences that stayed with him long after the spikes came off.
Now, as 2026 approaches, Animesh wants more.
“The revelling part is done,” he says. “Now I want to stamp my authority.”
“I want to become the first Indian to do 10-flat and 20-flat in the 100 and 200,” Animesh said. “I’m heavily invested in it. I want to get it done at the Senior Federation meet (May 2026) itself.”
With the Asian Games scheduled for September, Animesh believes he will be a medal contender in at least two events—the 200 metres and the men’s 4x100m relay.
“This time, when I go to the Asian Games, I’ll go as a medal contender, not just to participate,” he said. “The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are my main targets.”
MEETING BOLT AND THE CONFIDENCE OF 2025
The confidence is not accidental. Animesh currently stands third in Asia in the men’s 200 metres. More importantly, he believes he belongs there—and that belief, he says, came not just from training, but from results arriving when they mattered.
“In the transition phase of 2024–25, I was hovering around my record timings,” he said. “I knew in training that I was improving, so I was confident something would happen.”
The first breakthrough came under unlikely circumstances.
“I was in Chennai and had fallen badly ill,” Animesh recalled. “I was suffering, but somehow I turned things around and ran 20.40. That gave me belief that I could do things that year.”
The medal at the Asian Athletics Championships meant even more.
“More than the records, qualifying for the Asian Championships made me happy,” he said. “Winning a medal there with another national record—20.32—was special.”
With success came visibility. Clips of Animesh’s races spread across social media, and his celebration—a nod to Usain Bolt—caught on quickly. That attention eventually led to a meeting with the Jamaican legend himself, arranged by Puma and Dream Set Go during the off-season in New Delhi.
Bolt had seen Animesh race at the World Championships, though not necessarily taken special note at the time. When they finally met, Animesh was overwhelmed.
“I lost it when I saw him,” he said, laughing. “I’ve met PV Sindhu and Sreejesh, but Bolt was something else. He’s the greatest sprinter ever, yet so chill.”
BOLT’S ADVICE, AND A LESSON IN PATIENCE
Animesh used the moment well, asking Bolt about his technique and areas for improvement.
“He told me not to open my right hand so much,” Animesh said.
Back in training, he tried to apply the advice—but the results were not immediate.
“I spoke to my coach and tried it, but my timings went down,” he said. “I got impatient. It takes time for the body to adjust.”
Eventually, he reverted to his old style—something he now considers a mistake.
“My coach told me to have patience. That’s something I’ve learnt.”
LESS RACING, MORE PLANNING IN 2026
If 2025 gave Animesh belief, it also taught him restraint.
Last season, the Reliance Foundation athlete raced far more than initially planned. His calendar was meant to end with the World University Games, but a strong Asian Championships performance opened the door to the World Athletics Championships. To secure qualification, more races were added, including the U23 Diamond League meet in Monaco.
“I ran too many competitions,” Animesh admitted. “Because targets kept shifting, I couldn’t peak at the right time. There was a lot of travel and I got fatigued.”
2026 will be different.
The focus is on training, speed development, and structured planning—keeping an eye not just on this season but on the World Championships in 2027. At the 2025 Worlds, Animesh finished last in the heats. In 2027, the goal is the semifinals.
“I ran the heats this time,” he said. “Next time, it’s semis. Then finals. Then medals.”
STAYING GROUNDED
In a year of rapid rise, Animesh credits his coach for keeping him grounded.
“He keeps telling me everything has a process,” Animesh said. “You can’t jump steps. I have age on my side.”
Travelling abroad also taught him humility.
“In India, when athletes get recognition, there’s arrogance,” he said. “People try to show others down. In Europe, everyone just wants to learn.”
He observed how openly athletes and coaches shared knowledge. During the World Championships, even Australian prodigy Gout Gout’s coach offered help if Animesh ever competed in Australia.
As 2026 begins, Animesh Kujur has quietly returned to training. The noise of last year has faded. What remains is a simple, audacious goal.
Ten flat.
If he gets there, history will follow. But Animesh knows speed is built slowly—session by session, mistake by mistake.
As the build-up to the Asian Games begins, keep an eye on Animesh Kujur—Indian sprinting’s fastest man, and perhaps its next great leap forward.
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