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Animesh Kujur, already a national sensation as the current record holder in the men's 100m and 200m sprints, has once again proven his champion status by leading his team from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) to a remarkable gold medal in the men's 4×100m relay at the recent Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025.
This victory is a major highlight in his impressive career, which includes a bronze medal in the 4×100 meter relay at the 2025 Summer World University Games.
His consistent performance and ability to deliver under pressure are why he is widely considered one of India's most important sprinters right now. The KIIT relay team, anchored by the national record holder Kujur, was a perfect example of great teamwork and flawless baton passing, which are the most important parts of a successful relay race.
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Their collective speed and coordination allowed them to cross the finish line with a time of 40.09 seconds, which not only secured the gold but also set a brand new meet record for the Khelo India University Games, beating the old record of 40.76 seconds. This historic win shows the high level of talent being produced by the universities and makes a strong statement about the future of Indian Athletics on the global stage.
Animesh Kujur shares his goals, future plans, training routine and more in after KIUG 2025 success
Kujur's achievements are not just personal wins but also a source of great pride and a symbol of hope for India's sporting future, which is why his words are always highly anticipated. His immediate thoughts after the record-breaking victory were shared in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.
“We were here to beat the Khelo India University Games record. It was the only record that KIIT did not have in this discipline, so the main motive was to beat the record and I am happy we were able to create the new record. Our founder Achyuta Samanta sir supports us a lot, be it in accommodation, food and preparation, so we wanted to bring this record to Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology," said Kujur.
Animesh Kujur recalled his latest meeting with his idol Usain Bolt at a campaign where he learned new methods from him.
“I met Usain Bolt in a campaign by Dream Set Go. I was signing a contract with Puma and I was happy that I met him the same day when I was signing the contract. He is the brand ambassador of Puma so it is a big thing for me. I asked for techniques to improve my run and areas where I am leaking my energy by showing him my videos. He gave me a lot of tips but cannot share the same here as all things are quite technical. I met other big athletes like PV Sindhu during the same campaign," said Kujur.
On being asked about his tough run in World University Games and his experience in the World Championship, Kujur said:
“I couldn't perform well at the World University Games and that was my own mistake. I took the competition lightly and that cost me. It will always remain my mistake but I have learned a lot from that and now I don't let overconfidence come in between my races. My experience at the World Championship was great, I was surprised to find my name in the list. I also met almost every big sprinter as we all were sharing the same hotel. I used to sit at the stadium while they were warming up to understand their form, start techniques and routine to add the same to my coaching and improve myself. Talking about the race, I was so excited as all three floors of the stadium were full. At one point of time, I used to be in that crowd and watch my idol run who used to look so small from that height of the floor. Now, I am in the race with great sprinters and I was very happy. It was a complete goosebumps for me.”
Does Animesh Kujur get pressurized in front of big crowds like in Diamond League or World Championship?
“I don't feel that pressure, rather it is an energy boost for me as I see such a big crowd supporting me. In the World Championship, I felt energetic after seeing such a big support in the stadium," he said.
On being questioned about his future plans and events he will participate in, Animesh Kujur said:
“My main goals now are Asian Games and Commonwealth Games where I participate in my favourite event, the 200m race. I will be participating in the 100m race as a sideline event and overall play relay in other competitions for enjoyment. I love playing relay as it is a team game where you run for the whole team and your good performance becomes a reason of happiness for the other three members too.”
Animesh opened about his job preferences and his experience of breaking the meet record with his team.
“My father is in the police and I haven't yet accepted any job offer. I am trying to get a post in customs and income tax as I like that role. Talking about breaking the meet record, I am very happy that me and my team were able to create a new meet record with 40.09 seconds. As this is the off season, our coach asked us to participate in this event and test our capabilities. Our team's target was simply to break the meet record. We tried to break the national record but weren't able to surpass that, still happy that we have the Khelo India University Games record in the name of KIIT.”
