Animesh Kujur, Tejas Shirse Lead Asian Games Qualification Rush on Day 2 of Inter-State Athletics Championships

Bhubaneswar, June 25: National record holder Animesh Kujur headlined a productive day for Indian athletics as he secured qualification for the 2026 Asian Games with a winning performance in the men's 200m at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

Representing Odisha, Kujur clocked 20.87 seconds to finish first in the event, narrowly going under the Asian Games qualification standard of 20.88 seconds. The performance ensured his place at the continental showpiece in Aichi-Nagoya and further cemented his status as one of India's premier sprinters.

The qualification marks another milestone in Kujur's rapidly growing career. The national record holder has already represented India at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 and is set to compete at the World Athletics Championships 2025 and the Commonwealth Games 2026 before taking part in the Asian Games 2026.

Kujur's qualification was one of several notable performances on the second day of competition, with athletes across sprint and hurdles events achieving the required standards for the Asian Games.

Among them was national record holder Tejas Shirse, who produced a commanding display in the men's 110m hurdles heats. The Maharashtra athlete clocked 13.43 seconds to finish first and comfortably breach the Asian Games qualification mark of 13.63 seconds.

Shirse's effort was significant for another reason as well. The hurdler broke his own meet record of 13.54 seconds, setting a new championship benchmark while securing his ticket to Aichi-Nagoya. The performance continued his impressive run after establishing himself as India's fastest-ever 110m hurdler.

Earlier at the start of the afternoon session, Harita Bhadra became another athlete to qualify for the Asian Games. The Haryana sprinter clocked a personal best 23.55 seconds in the women's 200m, going well below the qualification standard of 23.70 seconds.

The performance marked a substantial improvement on her previous personal best of 23.90 seconds, achieved in 2025.

Karnataka's Unnathi Bollanda Aiyappa also secured qualification after topping the women's 200m heats with a timing of 23.65 seconds, becoming the second athlete in the event to achieve the Asian Games standard.

Meanwhile, Prakruthi Roopa finished first in another women's 200m heat with a time of 23.78 seconds, narrowly missing the qualification mark.

Fresh from winning gold in the women's 100m hurdles during her comeback competition, national record holder Jyothi Yarraji finished second in the same heat in 24.10 seconds. Despite an encouraging performance, Yarraji fell short of the Asian Games qualification standard of 23.70 seconds.