Asian Games 2026: Gurindervir, Animesh exit 100m semis; Pooja sixth in heptathlon
Synopsis
India's two sprinters clocked personal-best-level times in the Asian Games 100m semis but still could not make the final — illustrating the continent's rising speed bar. Meanwhile, Pooja finished just 10 points outside fifth place in the heptathlon, a result that shows promise but also the fine margins separating India from a medal in Nagoya.
Key Takeaways
Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.32 seconds in the semifinal but finished fifth , failing to reach the Asian Games 2026 men's 100m final.
Animesh Kujur finished seventh in his semifinal heat with 10.38 seconds and was also eliminated.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson ran 9.95 seconds in the heats — just 0.03s outside the Asian Games record.
Pooja finished sixth in the women's heptathlon with 5,368 points ; Anamika Kozhinjaparambil ended eighth with 5,234 points .
Japan's Yuri Tanaka won heptathlon gold with 5,920 points ; Kazakhstan's Alina Chistyakova took bronze with 5,568 points .
India's sprinters Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur were eliminated from the men's 100m event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 25 September after failing to advance past the semifinals, while Pooja and Anamika Kozhinjaparambil finished sixth and eighth respectively in the women's heptathlon final — leaving India without a medal in either discipline on the day.
How India's Sprinters Fell Short
Gurindervir had earlier shown promise in the heats, finishing second in Heat 4 with a timing of 10.38 seconds to book a semifinal berth. However, in Semifinal Heat 2, he clocked 10.32 seconds — an improvement — but could only manage fifth place as a faster field pulled ahead in the closing stretch.
Oman's Ali Balushi won the heat, while China's Zhenye Xie finished second; both advanced to the final. Animesh, meanwhile, had qualified from Heat 1 with a third-place finish in 10.36 seconds, but bowed out after finishing seventh in his semifinal with a timing of 10.38 seconds.
The standout of the heats session was Thailand's Puripol Boonson, who clocked a blistering 9.95 seconds in Heat 1 — just 0.03 seconds outside the Asian Games record — underlining the calibre of competition that India's sprinters faced.
Pooja and Anamika Miss the Heptathlon Podium
In the women's heptathlon, the final event was the 800m, where Pooja clocked 2:16.43 and Anamika Kozhinjaparambil finished third in the event with a time of 2:18.06. Despite strong individual performances in specific disciplines, neither athlete accumulated enough overall points for a podium finish.
Pooja ended the competition in sixth place with 5,368 points, while Anamika concluded eighth with 5,234 points. The gap between them and the bronze medallist was notable — Kazakhstan's Alina Chistyakova claimed bronze with 5,568 points.
Heptathlon Podium: Japan Dominates
Japan's Yuri Tanaka claimed the heptathlon gold with a commanding 5,920 points, followed by compatriot Nanaka Kajiki with 5,673 points for silver. Uzbekistan's Ugiloy Norboeva finished fourth with 5,412 points, and Chinese Taipei's Cai-juan Chen was fifth with 5,378 points — just 10 points ahead of Pooja.
Indonesia's Emilia Nova finished seventh with 5,279 points, ahead of Anamika in eighth. Vietnam's Thang Giang Hoang and Iran's Fatemeh Mohitizadeh completed the 10-athlete field with 4,360 and 3,486 points respectively.
India's Athletics Campaign in Context
The exits are a reminder of the gap Indian sprinters still face against Asia's elite, particularly in the 100m — a discipline where sub-10-second times are increasingly commonplace at the continental level. For the heptathlon, Pooja's sixth-place finish with over 5,300 points reflects improving depth in Indian multi-event athletics, even as the podium remains elusive. India's athletics contingent at Nagoya 2026 will look to regroup in the remaining events across the Games.
Point of View
The more actionable question is whether Pooja's sixth-place heptathlon finish — just 10 points off fifth — indicates a genuine breakthrough is close, or whether the ceiling is the same as it has been for a decade. The numbers suggest India is producing athletes who can compete at the Asian level; the gap to the podium, however, requires structural investment in coaching depth and competitive exposure that results sheets alone cannot deliver.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur not qualify for the 100m final at Asian Games 2026?
Both Indian sprinters were eliminated in the semifinals. Gurindervir clocked 10.32 seconds but finished fifth in Semifinal Heat 2, while Animesh recorded 10.38 seconds and finished seventh in his heat — neither time was fast enough to advance in a highly competitive field.
What was Pooja's final score in the women's heptathlon at Asian Games 2026?
Pooja finished sixth in the women's heptathlon with a total of 5,368 points. Her compatriot Anamika Kozhinjaparambil ended eighth with 5,234 points, and neither athlete secured a medal.
Who won the women's heptathlon gold at Asian Games 2026?
Japan's Yuri Tanaka won gold with 5,920 points. Her compatriot Nanaka Kajiki took silver with 5,673 points, and Kazakhstan's Alina Chistyakova claimed bronze with 5,568 points.
Who was the fastest sprinter in the Asian Games 2026 men's 100m heats?
Thailand's Puripol Boonson was the standout, clocking 9.95 seconds in Heat 1 — just 0.03 seconds outside the Asian Games record. His time was significantly faster than both Indian sprinters in the heats.
How did India qualify for the 100m semifinals at Asian Games 2026?
Both Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur qualified automatically by finishing inside the top three in their respective heats. Animesh was third in Heat 1 with 10.36 seconds, and Gurindervir was second in Heat 4 with 10.38 seconds.
