Indian athletics enjoyed a historic weekend as sprinters Animesh Kujur and Mohammed Afsal shattered national records in separate European competitions on July 5, 2025.

At the Dromia International Sprint & Relays meeting in Greece, 22-year-old Animesh Kujur clocked a sensational 10.18 seconds in the men’s 100m heats, becoming the first Indian to break the 10.20-second barrier. His run surpassed the previous national record of 10.20 seconds set by Gurindervir Singh in March this year. Kujur now holds national records in both the 100m and 200m events, having clocked 20.40 seconds in the latter earlier this year in Kochi.

Meanwhile in Poland, 29-year-old middle-distance runner Mohammed Afsal made history at the Memorial Czesława Cybulskiego meet in Poznań. Afsal clocked 1:44.93 in the men’s 800m, becoming the first Indian to dip below the 1:45 mark. This performance broke his own national record of 1:45.61, set in Dubai in May.

The dual achievements mark a breakthrough period for Indian athletics, with both sprinters now ranking among Asia’s elite in their respective events. The performances reflect India’s growing competitiveness on the global stage in sprint and middle-distance running.