Bhubaneswar: Promising Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur showcased his prowess on home soil, clinching gold in the men’s 200m at the World Continental Tour Bronze meet in Bhubaneswar.
Shri Kujur, who had expressed his desire to “gain home advantage” ahead of the competition, delivered on his promise with a winning time of 20.77 seconds.
The victory, which saw him outpace KO Seunghwan of Korea (20.95s) and Raguk Kumar G of India (21.17s), provides a crucial boost to Shri Kujur’s quest for a spot at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Japan.
Shri Kujur’s focus for the event was solely on the 200m, an event where he currently holds the National record with a time of 20.32 seconds. While his winning time of 20.77s on Sunday was shy of the automatic qualification mark of 20.16 seconds, his consistent performance is vital for maintaining his position in the world rankings.
The top 48 athletes in the world rankings are eligible to compete at the World Championships, and Kujur’s current rank of 42 places him in a precarious but promising position.
With the qualification deadline approaching, Shri Kujur’s win at the Continental Tour, a qualifying event, will be instrumental in earning valuable ranking points.
The sprinter, who represents Odisha in domestic competitions, will be looking to further solidify his place among the world’s elite as he continues his journey toward the global stage.