Animesh Kujur and Mohammed Afsal delivered standout performances on the international stage, claiming victories in their respective events at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Riyadh on 16 May 2025. The meet, held at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Stadium, is a Bronze-level fixture on the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar.

Afsal Dominates the 800m

National record holder Mohammed Afsal crossed the line in 1:48.24 to take the men's 800m title, edging out South Africa's Christopher Swart (1:48.50) in a closely fought finish. Werner Gouws completed the podium in 1:48.75.

Afsal holds India's national record of 1:44.93, set in Poland last year. The 800m win adds to a growing international resume that includes a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games, where he clocked 1:48.43. Friday's performance underlines his consistency at the top level of middle-distance running.

Kujur Wins 200m, Narrowly Misses 100m Gold

Animesh Kujur won the men's 200m in 20.77 seconds, beating Great Britain's David Harrison (20.87s) and compatriot Toby Harries (21.01s). The 22-year-old sprinter, who currently holds India's national records in both the 100m and 200m, was equally competitive in the shorter sprint.

In the men's 100m, Kujur clocked 10.44 seconds but finished second to Harrison, who won in 10.42 seconds. Former Indian national record holder Gurindervir Singh also timed 10.44 seconds, but was placed third after a photo finish — a bittersweet outcome for the Indian camp in the shorter race.

Notably, Kujur had arrived in Riyadh in strong form, having completed a sprint double at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi last month. His national records stand at 10.18 seconds in the 100m — set in Greece last year — and 20.32 seconds in the 200m, clocked at the Asian Athletics Championships.

More Podium Finishes for India

M Krishik added a third-place finish in the men's 110m hurdles, clocking 13.90 seconds. It was the 22-year-old's first international competition in the event, having previously competed as the Indian indoor champion in the 60m hurdles.

The Indian men's 4x100m relay team capped the day with a first-place finish, crossing the line in 40.49 seconds, well clear of hosts Saudi Arabia who finished in 41.89 seconds. Only 2 of the 5 entered teams ultimately started the race.

India's Growing Sprint Depth

The Saudi Athletics Grand Prix outing reflects a broader upward trajectory for Indian athletics on the continental circuit. With Kujur and Afsal both performing at a high level ahead of the major championship season, India's sprint and middle-distance pipeline looks increasingly competitive. The next test will reveal whether these performances translate on the bigger stages ahead.