Animesh Kujur created history on Friday by becoming the first Indian sprinter to take part in a Diamond League meet. He ran in the U23 men’s 200m race at the prestigious Meeting Herculis EBS in Monaco. Clocking 20.55 seconds, Animesh finished fourth. It was yet another strong performance in what has already been a breakout year for the 22-year-old.

The Rise of a Record-Setter

Animesh comes from Ghuitangar village in Chhattisgarh. His 2025 season has been nothing short of remarkable. So far, he has set national records in three major events — 100m (10.18s), 200m (20.27s wind-aided and 20.32s legal), and the 4x100m relay (38.69s).

His performance in Monaco placed him among the world’s rising talents. This year’s Diamond League at Stade Louis II was packed with global champions, including Olympic gold medallists like Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, and pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis.

Breaking the 10.20-Second Barrier

Just last week, Animesh made headlines after he smashed the Indian 100m national record at the Dromia International Sprints Meet in Greece. He became the first Indian man to run under 10.20 seconds, finishing with 10.18s. His time surpassed the previous national record of 10.20s, which belonged to Gurindervir Singh, who also trains under the Reliance Foundation.

Earlier this year, Animesh won the bronze medal in the 200m event at the Asian Athletics Championships held in Gumi, South Korea, adding to his growing list of international achievements.

European Tour for Training and Competitions

Animesh is currently on a six-week training and competition tour in Europe. He is working with his coach Martin Owens, who is the Head Coach at the Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre, and physiotherapist Jayesh Bane. Their base is at the Swiss Olympic Centre in Magglingen, where they have been preparing for world-class events.

So far, Animesh has competed in Geneva and Athens, delivering quality performances. His schedule includes participation at the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 15th July.

Eyes on World University Games

Following the Lucerne event, Animesh will represent India at the World University Games in Germany. He will take part in both the 200m and 4x100m relay events. This will be another major test as he continues to gain experience on the international stage.