Animesh Kujur to Train Again With Swiss Winter Olympic Team in January After Breakthrough 2025

Jaipur, Dec 7: National sprint sensation Animesh Kujur capped off a remarkable year by anchoring KIIT University to a new meet record in the men's 4x100m relay at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG)

2025) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

The quartet clocked 40.09 seconds, eclipsing the previous KIUG record of 40.76s, and Kukur - the fastest man in the country - was the cynosure of all eyes in the Pink City; and he didn't disappoint.

For Animesh, who already holds the national records in both 100m and 200m, this performance was not just another medal-it was a mission fulfilled.

"I came here with a record in mind. I wanted a record for my university. Khelo India didn't have our name in the record books, so we wanted to change that. And we did it," Kujur told myKhel after finishing his race.

The Odisha Sports and Reliance Foundation-backed athlete acknowledged that the achievement, while good for the university, wasn't among his top highlights. But the KIUG experience, he admitted, was memorable for an unexpected reason: it was his first time receiving the official Khelo India kit.

"Khelo India has a lot of infrastructure. I saw lawn tennis and other events happening nearby-it's a very different level of arrangement. And this is the first time I got a Khelo India kit. It felt really good. Everything was arranged so well. I enjoyed it. "

'University athletes need this'

Despite racing globally this season at the Asian Championships, at European meets, and the Monaco Diamond League, Animesh values the KIUG stage immensely. He said, "This is a platform where university athletes get a chance. National-level athletes compete everywhere, but here students study and play together. That's special. "

His appearance at KIUG wasn't obligatory, it was purposeful. He returned to contribute to his university's history.

2024-25: The Breakthrough Season That Changed Everything

"If you look at 2024-25, it's been a long but memorable season for me," Animesh said, reflecting on an extraordinary year. The turning point came early. "In Senafed (Senior Federation Cup), when I played, I made a record. It helped improve my timing. "

Then came the Asian Championships, where he believed he belonged among the finalists. I used to calculate everything. I knew I would make it to the finals. When I won the bronze medal (at Asian Championships in Gumi), it was a different feeling. "

That bronze placed him in global rankings, pushing him into world championship contention, as he became the first Indian sprinter to qualify for the championships. He even raced in Geneva, his first competition in Europe, clocking 20.27 seconds in the 200m, though it was wind-assisted. "It didn't count because of the wind, but the performance was there. "

But chasing ranking points proved draining. He added further, "My coach wanted me to score more points, so we had to play more competitions. It was new for both of us. He didn't know I would be so exhausted. We had to adjust every time. But we learned a lot for next year. "

Training With Winter Olympians: An Unusual but Game-Changing Experience

One of the most fascinating chapters of his season happened far from the athletics track-in Switzerland, with a bobsleigh Winter Olympics team. He trained there under the watchful eyes of Chris Wooley.

Woolley is a former British bobsleigh athlete who has transitioned into a highly respected performance and start coach. Now working with Swiss-Sliding, Switzerland's national sliding federation, he specialises in explosive power development and start mechanics - skills that are vital to elite bobsleigh performance.

"I trained with the winter sports team, not the athletics team. Chris Woolley taught me how to stay lean, how to get the right start, maintain angles, and everything about technique. "

Animesh's long-standing struggle was always his start. This camp changed that. "My coach always said the start isn't actually bad-I just believed it was. In Switzerland, we fixed that," he said, beaming with a sense of satisfaction.

The exposure was so transformational that he will head back in January. "We're going back to Switzerland to train again with the Winter Olympics team. It helped me a lot. "

His First Diamond League, First Worlds, First European Meets

2025 was the year of firsts: First Monaco Diamond League, World Championships Debut, maiden European circuit meets, and Continental Tour Silver-level races. Each experience humbled and inspired him.

"I met international athletes - Noah (Lyles), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and many others. It's a different feeling to sit and eat with them because in the hotel, everything is together. I watched how they prepare. I learned a lot. "

Talking about his most memorable career moments, Kujur said meeting sprint legend Usain Bolt on his recent trip to India, where he was invited by Puma. "For me, the most memorable is meeting Bolt - it was a dream come true. I never thought I'd see him in real life, and that same day Puma signed me," he recalled.

His second biggest moment was racing at the Diamond League and said, "It was my first time in the international line, and being the first Indian sprinter to compete there was a big thing. "

And then there was his debut at the World Championships in Tokyo. "At the start of the year, I didn't think I'd go there. When I got ranked and qualified, it felt unbelievable. These three moments are the best of my life," he stated.

The National Record Moment in Greece: A Race He Almost Didn't Finish

One of the highlights of Animesh's domestic season was the 10.18s national record (in 100m) he ran in Greece, after three fouled attempts at the start. Recalling the experience in at Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greek city of Vari, the 22-year-old said, "Before that run, I only wanted to implement what I had trained. I wasn't chasing a record. But I got fouled three times. On the fourth run, I felt I was ahead of everyone - even the European Indoor Championship medallist who is a 60m specialist. "

He initially misunderstood the time. "When I finished, the clock showed 10.20. I thought - 'Oh man, I missed the record by so little. ' I wasn't even wearing my glasses, everything was blurry. Then my coach came and said - 'You made the record, you ran 10.18. ' I was elated. "

A Massive 2026 Ahead: Worlds, Asian Games, CWG

What excites him most is what lies ahead. "Next year we have World Indoors in Botswana, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games. Our team is capable of winning medals everywhere. I'll enjoy running with them. "

He is also ready to move if required. "They are saying the relay team may shift to Odisha. I don't know yet, but I am very excited for next year. "

Learning, Growing, Racing Fearlessly

Summing up his athletic journey in 2025, the Chhattisgarh-born sprinter signed off saying, "This year was new for me - new countries, new competitions, new challenges. But I learned a lot. We'll be better prepared for big competitions now. "