Animesh Kujur Prepares for Asian Games After Domestic Victories in Delhi
Domestic Success and Injury Prevention
Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur secured victories in both the 100m and 200m events at the Indian Athletics Series Final held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. The domestic meet served as the final competitive stop before the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Kujur won the 100m in 10.21 seconds and followed it with a 20.59-second victory in the 200m.
During the 200m race, Kujur adhered to instructions from his coach to prioritize staying injury-free rather than chasing a fast time. Gurindervir Singh, India's 100m national record holder, finished second in the 100m with a time of 10.32 seconds. Kujur explained that his focus was on executing the bend, maintaining his pace on the straight, and finishing safely.
Kujur enters the Asian Games holding a personal best of 10.14 seconds in the 100m, recorded in Wetzlar, Germany, in July. This mark stands as the second-fastest 100m time by an Indian, behind Gurindervir's national record of 10.09 seconds. Kujur also holds the national 200m record of 20.32 seconds, which he established at the 2025 Asian Championships. He is scheduled to compete in the 100m, 200m, and relay events in Japan.
Tough Competition Awaits in Japan
The upcoming Asian Games will present a highly competitive field in both sprint events. In the 100m, Japan's entry list includes Shuhei Tada, who has a personal best of 10.01 seconds, and Yuki Koike, who has run 10.06 seconds. Other Japanese sprinters, such as Rikuto Higuchi with a 10.01-second mark, and others around 10.03 to 10.04 seconds, have registered strong performances this season. Gurindervir's 10.09 and Kujur's 10.14 position the Indian athletes within this competitive bracket.
The 200m event features even faster times on paper. Thailand's Puripol Boonson holds a national record of 20.03 seconds, while Japan's Soshi Mizukubo has run 20.07 seconds this season to win the Japanese national title. In comparison, Kujur's national record stands at 20.32 seconds. Although Kujur's 2026 season in the 200m has been less spectacular than his record-breaking 2025 run, he qualified for the Asian Games with a time of 20.74 seconds at the National Inter-State Championships.
Kujur noted that the domestic rivalry with Gurindervir has made the 100m more enjoyable for him. However, he expressed that the 200m in India currently lacks the same level of depth, adding that strong competition is essential for running faster times.
Shifting Focus From the Clock
Kujur has adjusted his approach to racing, focusing less on chasing specific times. Reflecting on his progression, he recalled spending the 2024 season running times around 20.5 and 20.6 seconds before improving to 20.40 seconds at the 2025 Senior Federation Cup, and eventually setting the national record of 20.32 seconds at the Asian Championships.
He emphasized that peak performances depend on the right conditions, competition, and atmosphere on the day of the race. Regarding his goals in the 100m, Kujur stated that he has shifted his target from running a flat 10 seconds to aiming for a sub-10-second run in the nine-second range.
Lessons From International Campaigns
Kujur's preparation is guided by lessons learned during his first major international appearance at the 2025 Asian Championships, where he won a bronze medal in the 200m. He admitted to feeling pressure during that event because he was officially representing India for the first time. Since then, he has gained experience competing at the World Championships, the Continental Tour, and other international meets.
His coaching staff has encouraged him to use these international races to experiment and learn from mistakes, with the ultimate objective being the Los Angeles Olympics. Kujur has also developed a better understanding of managing his physical workload, knowing when to peak and when to reduce training loads.
He expects the weather conditions in Aichi-Nagoya, specifically the heat and humidity, to be similar to his training environment. Kujur's preparation is supported by several organizations, including Reliance, the Odisha Government, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Athletics Federation of India, and Puma. Looking ahead to the Asian Games, Kujur expressed confidence in his ability to perform well across his events, aiming to secure a medal at a major multi-sport competition.
