Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of National Sports Day, ace athlete Animesh Kujur was felicitated by the Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) and Odisha Athletics Association (OAA). Both organizations presented him with cheques of Rs 50,000 each, recognising his remarkable achievement and encouraging him to strive for greater success.
The sports bodies assured Kujur of continued support and expressed confidence that his participation in the World Championships would bring pride to Odisha and the nation.
The 21-year-old athlete has etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Athletics Championships. Kujur, a national record holder in both 100m and 200m events, has qualified for the 200m event at the World Championships, scheduled to take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
Kujur secured his spot through the World Rankings, where he is currently ranked 41st with 1220 points. Out of the 48 athletes who have qualified for the 200m event, 31 sprinters achieved the entry standard of 20.16 seconds, while 17 others, including Kujur, qualified through the world rankings.
