Animesh Kujur Shines at PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs Meet
In a remarkable display of speed, Animesh Kujur, who holds the national record in the 200 meters, achieved a personal best of 10.14 seconds in the men’s 100 meters final at the PUMA Fast Arms Fast Legs 2026 meet on Saturday. This impressive time not only secured him the second place but also marked the fastest 100 meters ever recorded by an Indian athlete on foreign soil.
Kujur’s performance was notable as it’s the second-fastest 100 meters recorded by an Indian overall, only trailing behind Gurindervir Singh’s national record of 10.09 seconds. Earlier in the day, Animesh had set the stage for his final run by winning his heat in a swift 10.19 seconds, further showcasing his consistent improvements throughout the season.
As the reigning national record holder in the 200 meters, Animesh has also made a significant mark in the 100 meters, now holding three of the five fastest times ever recorded by an Indian.
Top 5 All-Time 100m Times by Indian Athletes:
- Gurindervir Singh – 10.09s
- Animesh Kujur – 10.14s
- Animesh Kujur – 10.15s
- Gurindervir Singh – 10.17s
- Animesh Kujur – 10.18s
In June, the Odisha sprinter secured his spot in the men’s 200 meters event for the Asian Games, clocking 20.74 seconds at the Inter-State National Athletics Championships. This time comfortably met the qualification standard set by the Athletics Federation of India.
Despite his successful qualification, Animesh expressed a desire to improve upon his performance. “Honestly, I was not focused on timing. My main goal was to secure the qualification mark for the Asian Games. Now that I’ve achieved that, I will aim for better times before the event,” he said after the race.
His recent performances follow a busy competition schedule, including a bronze medal win in the mixed 4×100 meters relay at the Asian Relay Championships. His coach, Martin Owens, highlighted the focus on qualification rather than time due to fatigue from recent travels.
“I wanted him to do well and achieve the qualification mark. We are very tired from the long trip to the Asian Relay Championships, and he didn’t have much time to recover,” Owens explained.
Animesh, while emphasizing that the 200 meters is his favorite event, noted that he finds more competitive edge in the 100 meters in India, which has led to his significant achievements in that discipline. “I enjoy the 200 meters more, but the competition in the 100 meters really pushes me,” he stated.
As he continues to chase further achievements, Animesh remains one of India’s brightest sprinters, with eyes set firmly on the upcoming Asian Games.
