Indian Sprinter Animesh Kujur Finishes Fourth in Monaco Diamond League

Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable failed to finish in the Monaco Diamond League after suffering a nasty fall, while sprinter Animesh Kujur ended fourth in the Under-23 200m event. Sable was expecting a top-five finish in his favourite 3000m event but was forced to limp off the track. Kujur, who holds the Indian national record in the 200m, has emerged as one of the country's brightest sprint hopes.

At the Monaco Diamond League on July 11, 2025, Indian athletes faced a mix of challenges and triumphs. Avinash Sable, a two-time Olympian and Asian Games champion, was forced to pull out of the men’s 3000m steeplechase after suffering a fall early in the race [1]. The 30-year-old Indian athlete, competing at the Stade Louis II Stadium, stumbled over the water jump after another competitor lost his footing ahead of him. The incident resulted in a Did Not Finish (DNF) for Sable, who was unable to put weight on his leg and had to be supported as he was helped away to a local medical center for further assessment. The extent of his injury remains unknown. Despite the setback, Sable remains qualified for the Tokyo World Championships in September.

Meanwhile, Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur narrowly missed out on the podium in the pre-programme men’s 200m race in the men’s U23 category at the same venue. Kujur clocked 20.55s, finishing fourth behind Australian teen prodigy Gout Gout, who won with a time of 20.10s, and Botswana’s Busang Kebinatshipi, who finished second with a time of 20.28s. South Africa’s Naeem Jack finished third with a time of 20.42s [2][3].

Kujur, who holds the Indian national record in the 200m at 20.32s, has emerged as one of the country’s brightest sprint hopes in recent months. Just last weekend, he smashed the national 100m record with a 10.18s dash at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meet in Greece, eclipsing the previous mark held by his relay teammate Gurindervir Singh. Earlier this season, he also clocked 20.27s in Geneva, the fastest 200m ever run by an Indian. Born in a tribal village in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh, Kujur’s rapid rise has injected fresh hope into Indian men’s sprinting. He is now eyeing the tough 20.16s qualifying mark for the World Championships in Tokyo this September and has vowed to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m event [3][4].

References:
[1] https://www.olympics.com/en/news/monaco-diamond-league-2025-athletics-india-avinash-sable-animesh-kujur-report
[2] https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/formula-1-streaming-rights-coming-to-apple-over-espn-in-us-report/10741445/
[3] https://www.thehindu.com/sport/animesh-kujur-fourth-in-monaco-diamond-league-under-23-200m-event/article69802065.ece
[4] https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/steeplechaser-avinash-sable-suffers-fall-fails-to-finish-in-monaco-diamond-league/article69803546.ece