Indian Open U23 Athletics: Odisha Sprinter Animesh Kujur Aims to End Season on a High

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Animesh Kujur, the rising star of Indian athletics, revealed his plans to break the 200m national record as he began his preparations for the final meet of the season at the Indian Open U23 Athletics Championships in Patna.

In an exclusive interview with myKhel, the 21-year-old sprinter, who is a two-time national champion, shared his aim to cap off a successful year by bettering his timings in both the 100m and 200m events, which starts today.

Kujur has had a breakthrough season, dominating the domestic circuit and winning multiple titles. It must not be forgotten that the world-class quality infrastructure at the Kalinga Stadium, through it High-Performance Centres for various sports, played a key role in nurturing him as an athlete.

Reflecting on his performance, he said, "I just want to run as fast as I can. To break my own record of 10.27 seconds (in 100m). I want to break my own timings, as this is the last meet of the year."

The Odisha-based athlete, under Odisha RF Athletics HPC, registered his personal best timing of 10.27s in the 100m event at the 26th Salamanca Athletics Trophy in Spain in June. He also won a gold medal in the 200m race in the same tournament.

When asked about breaking the national record in the 200m, Animesh remained realistic but determined. "It depends on a lot of factors like the environment, weather, and track conditions," he said. "I am currently just focusing on breaking my own personal timings."

Animesh Kujur explains decision to participate in late season meets

Animesh's decision to compete late into the season comes from his desire to make the most of a year without major international competitions. "During the interstate championship, I was trying to get closer to the qualifying timing for the Olympics but failed to qualify," he said. "With no big competitions left, I decided to participate in the under-23 open nationals."

His coach, Martin Owens, echoed the decision of his protege, adding that the Indian athletics calendar differs from the global standard. "This has been a free-hit year for Animesh. The Olympics is too early for him, and he's only 21. 2028 (LA Olympics) and 2032 (Brisbane Olympics) are the real targets for him," Owens said. "He just ran as much as he could and gained experience against better-quality athletes."

Though known for his dominance in the 200m, Kujur's performance in the 100m has also improved, but his focus remains on the 200m event. "I will do both events, but mostly the 100 metres as a side event. My main focus will be on the 200m," the sprinter clarified.

Owens, who is head coach Odisha RF Athletics High Performance Centre, praised his dedication as well as the support provided by the state government. "Animesh is very easy to coach. He's a caring person and appreciative of the world-class team behind him," Owens said.

With an incredible support staff and a passionate coach like Martin Owens, Animesh Kujur looks destined to become the next big thing in the Indian athletics circuit. However, despite his late success, it remains to be seen whether the youngster can secure his qualification for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games.