Four years ago, Animesh Kujur was just another teenager in a tribal village in Chhattisgarh, chasing footballs barefoot on dusty fields. He had never worn running spikes, never seen a professional track, and sprinting wasn’t even on his radar. But fate had other plans—and it all began with someone simply noticing him run.

In 2021, a local coach saw something special in the way Animesh moved. His natural speed stood out, even among a crowd. That one observation changed everything. For the first time, Animesh was introduced to athletics—and a door opened to a world he never knew existed.

Soon after, Animesh was training at the Reliance Foundation’s Odisha High-Performance Centre, under the guidance of elite coach Martin Owens. From informal village runs to scientific training sessions and structured routines, the transition was massive—but Animesh adapted like a seasoned athlete. To fine-tune his explosive starts, he even traveled to Switzerland to train with a bobsleigh coach—a move unheard of for most Indian sprinters.

And then came the records

He didn’t just break India’s 200m national record—he shattered it. Twice. Today, he holds the country’s fastest-ever 200m time: a stunning 20.32 seconds. But he wasn’t done making history. In June 2025, Animesh clocked 10.18 seconds in the 100m sprint—becoming the fastest Indian ever over the distance.

What makes his story incredible isn’t just the numbers—it’s the journey. From a boy with no access to formal training, to someone rewriting Indian athletics in just four years, Animesh Kujur is the definition of raw talent meeting the right opportunity.

He is proof that greatness doesn’t always come from polished academies—it can rise from the most humble corners of the country, waiting to be discovered. Animesh didn’t just sprint past finish lines—he ran through every barrier that stood in his way.