National Youth Athletics Championships: Neil Samraj Breaks Youth National Record With Stunning 100m Gold

Tamil Nadu's Neil Samraj underlined his growing reputation as one of India's brightest sprinting prospects after producing a record-breaking performance in the U18 Boys 100m at the National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana, Punjab, on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old stormed to the gold medal in 10.46 seconds, setting both a new meet record and national youth record in a remarkable career-best performance. Samraj dominated the field and crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of his rivals.

The result marks a significant milestone in the young sprinter's rapidly developing career and further highlights his potential on the national stage. His progress has also been supported by the Reliance Foundation, which has backed his development as he continues to compete at the highest level in age-group athletics.

With his latest record, Samraj has emerged as a name to watch in Indian sprinting. At just 17, the Tamil Nadu athlete now has an important benchmark to build on as he looks to make the transition from promising junior to senior-level contender in the years ahead.

He has also enjoyed success at school-level competition, winning gold in the 100m and 200m at the 69th National School Games Athletics Championships in 2025.

Born on January 19, 2009, Samraj is still only 17, giving him considerable room for further improvement as he progresses towards senior athletics.