Animesh Kujur breaks 100m national record at Nationals, books Glasgow CWG spot
Synopsis
The national men's 100m record fell twice within minutes at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Stadium — first to Gurindervir Singh, then reclaimed by Animesh Kujur with a 10.15-second run that also punched his ticket to Glasgow. It is one of the most dramatic single-session record swings in recent Indian athletics history.
Key Takeaways
Animesh Kujur set a new national men's 100m record of 10.15 seconds at the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi on 22 May 2025 .
Gurindervir Singh had briefly held the record at 10.17 seconds in the same session, breaking the previous mark of 10.18 seconds .
Kujur's run cleared the Glasgow CWG qualification standard of 10.16 seconds .
Seema (JSW) qualified for the CWG with a women's discus throw of 57.29m , surpassing the 56.85m standard.
Ancy Sojan won the women's long jump with a meet-record 6.75m , edging Shaili Singh (6.58m).
Both the 100m meet record ( 10.25 seconds , set by Manikanta Hoblidhar in 2025) and the long jump meet record ( 6.64m ) were broken on day one.
Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur shattered the national men's 100m record with a stunning 10.15 seconds in the semifinal round of the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition at Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi on Friday, 22 May, securing his berth at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The 22-year-old from Odisha reclaimed his own record after it had been broken just minutes earlier in the same session — a rare double-record day in Indian athletics.
A Record Broken Twice in Minutes
The national record fell not once but twice during the men's 100m semifinals. Gurindervir Singh fired the opening salvo in the first semifinal, clocking 10.17 seconds to surpass the previous national mark of 10.18 seconds — a record Kujur himself had set the previous year. The stadium had barely absorbed that moment when Kujur, racing in the second semifinal, responded with 10.15 seconds to reclaim the record. Both athletes also erased the meet record of 10.25 seconds set by Manikanta Hoblidhar in 2025.
The Commonwealth Games qualification standard for men's 100m stood at 10.16 seconds, meaning Kujur's run earned him a direct ticket to Glasgow. A jubilant Kujur kept his post-race message simple: 'It's all about hard work,' he told reporters after the race.
Seema Clears CWG Mark in Women's Discus
Seema of JSW became the second athlete on day one to achieve a Commonwealth Games qualification mark, launching a gold-winning throw of 57.29m in the women's discus throw — clearing the CWG standard of 56.85m. Nidhi Rani (Haryana) finished second with 55.05m and Krishna Jayashankar (Reliance) third with 55m, both below the qualification threshold.
Ancy Sojan Edges Shaili Singh in Women's Long Jump
A compelling battle unfolded in the women's long jump between two of India's premier athletes — Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan. It was Ancy who prevailed, winning gold with a distance of 6.75m — a new meet record, surpassing the 6.64m mark set by Shaili Singh in Kochi last year. Ancy, representing the Navy, posted a consistent series: 6.47m, 6.56m, 6.69m, 6.75m, 6.68m, and 6.57m. Shaili Singh (Anju Bobby George Academy) finished second at 6.58m. However, neither athlete cleared the CWG qualification mark of 6.84m.
10,000m and Other Day One Results
Deepak Bhatt of Uttarakhand won the men's 10,000m in 29:42.93 seconds, while Ravina Gayakwad of Maharashtra claimed the women's 10,000m title in 35:30.98 seconds. Both times fell short of their respective CWG qualification standards. In the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Balkishan of Haryana topped the field with 8:56.01. The men's hammer throw was won by Ashish Jakhar (SSCB) with 68.52m — below the CWG mark of 73.09m.
With two CWG qualification marks already secured on day one, the remaining days of the competition are expected to produce further selection drama ahead of the Glasgow Games.
Point of View
Kujur reclaiming it within minutes — is the kind of moment that signals a genuine generational shift in Indian sprinting. But the headline obscures a structural gap: not a single men's or women's 10,000m, steeplechase, or hammer throw athlete came within striking distance of their CWG qualification mark. India's sprint corridor is deepening, but its endurance and field event pipeline remains thin. Glasgow will expose that imbalance unless the remaining days of competition produce a surprise or two.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Animesh Kujur set at the 2025 National Senior Athletics meet?
Animesh Kujur set a new national men's 100m record of 10.15 seconds in the semifinal round of the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi on 22 May 2025. The run also cleared the Glasgow Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 10.16 seconds.
Did Gurindervir Singh also break a national record at the same meet?
Yes. Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.17 seconds in the first men's 100m semifinal, briefly setting a new national record by bettering the previous mark of 10.18 seconds. Kujur then surpassed that time in the very next semifinal with his 10.15-second run.
Which athletes qualified for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on day one?
Animesh Kujur qualified in the men's 100m with his 10.15-second run, clearing the 10.16-second CWG standard. Seema of JSW qualified in women's discus throw with a gold-winning throw of 57.29m, surpassing the 56.85m CWG mark.
How did Ancy Sojan perform in the women's long jump?
Ancy Sojan of the Navy won the women's long jump with a meet-record distance of 6.75m, beating Shaili Singh who finished second at 6.58m. However, neither athlete cleared the CWG qualification mark of 6.84m.
Where is the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition being held?
The competition is being held at Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Day one took place on 22 May 2025.
