3 min learnBhubaneswarJun 26, 2026 12:03 AM IST
Ace sprinter Animesh Kujur booked his berth for the Asian Video games 2026 in 200m occasion with a timing of 20.74s within the remaining breaching the qualification mark of 20.88s set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on the Inter State Nationwide Athletics Championships on Thursday.
Whereas breaching the qualification mark was not an issue for Animesh, the timing is just not upto his requirements. Animesh has a private better of 20.32s.
“Truthfully, I used to be not right here for timing. The thought was to safe the qualification mark for the Asian Video games. Since I’ve acquired it now, I’ll additional deal with enhancing earlier than the Asian Video games,” Animesh instructed the media after his race.
Animesh is approaching the again of a bronze medal on the Asian Relay Championships in combined 4*100 relay. His coach Martin Owens wished him to chill out. “I wished him to do nicely and obtain the qualification mark. As we’re very drained from the lengthy journey of the Asian Relay Championships. He didn’t have a lot time to get better,” he mentioned.
Rues lack of competitors
Whereas Animesh claims that 200m is his favorite occasion, his efficiency prior to now one yr has come largely within the 100m occasion.
After setting the nationwide report of 20.32s in Could 2025, Animesh has dipped beneath the 20.50s mark simply as soon as. Within the 100m, he broke the nationwide report twice in the identical interval earlier than Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.09s to grab it from him.
When requested about the identical, Animesh rued the shortage of competitors in his pet occasion. “I’ve mentioned this a number of instances that 200m is my pet occasion and I take pleasure in doing it greater than the rest. Nonetheless, I don’t get a lot competitors in India. Like in 100m, Guri, Manikanta, Pranav are there. I don’t have anybody to push me within the 200m. That’s the reason all my good performances have are available in 200m,” defined Animesh.
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With the Asian Video games berth booked in 200m, Animesh wish to do the identical in 100m the place the qualification mark stands at 10.16s whereas his private greatest is 10.15s.
He received’t have Gurindervir to push him within the 100m however nothing will please him greater than taking the title of quickest man of India in entrance of his dwelling crowd.
“I wish to be the quickest man in India once more, that’s the goal,” he mentioned earlier than the beginning of the 5 day meet.