Athletics – Indian Sprinters and Middle-Distance Stars Shine in Riyadh Meet
Athletics – India’s athletes delivered another impressive performance on the international stage as Animesh Kujur and Mohammed Afsal secured top finishes at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix 2026 held in Riyadh on Friday. Competing against athletes from multiple countries, the Indian contingent produced strong results across sprinting, middle-distance racing, hurdles, and relay events.
Afsal Dominates Men’s 800m Race
Mohammed Afsal continued his consistent run in international competitions by winning the men’s 800 metres event at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Stadium. The Indian runner timed 1:48.24 and produced a powerful finish in the closing stretch to move ahead of South Africa’s Christopher Swart, who settled for second place with a timing of 1:48.50. Werner Gouws claimed third position after clocking 1:48.75.
Afsal has remained one of India’s leading middle-distance runners in recent years. He currently holds the national record in the 800m with a timing of 1:44.93, achieved in Poland last year. His latest victory in Riyadh adds to an already notable international record that includes a silver medal-winning performance at the Asian Games in 2023.
Animesh Kujur Continues Sprinting Success
Young sprinter Animesh Kujur once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of India’s fastest athletes. The 22-year-old clinched the men’s 200m title with a timing of 20.77 seconds, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s David Harrison and Toby Harries. Harrison completed the race in 20.87 seconds, while Harries crossed the line in 21.01 seconds.
Kujur also came close to securing another gold medal in the men’s 100m race. He finished second after recording 10.44 seconds, narrowly behind Harrison, who won the event in 10.42 seconds. Former Indian national record holder Gurindervir Singh clocked the same time as Kujur but finished third following a photo-finish decision.
The Indian sprinter has enjoyed rapid progress over the last year. He broke the national 100m record in Greece with a timing of 10.18 seconds before later establishing a new 200m national mark of 20.32 seconds during the Asian Athletics Championships.
Strong Form Ahead of International Season
Kujur entered the Riyadh event carrying excellent domestic form. Last month, he completed a sprint double at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi by winning both the 100m and 200m races. His recent performances indicate growing consistency as India prepares for a busy international athletics calendar in 2026.
The Saudi Athletics Grand Prix is classified as a Bronze-level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour. The competition attracted participants from several nations, providing athletes with an opportunity to improve rankings and gain international exposure.
Podium Finish for Krishik in Hurdles
India also secured another podium result through M Krishik in the men’s 110m hurdles. The 22-year-old athlete finished third after clocking 13.90 seconds in what marked his first international appearance in the discipline. Krishik is already recognised domestically for his performances in the 60m indoor hurdles event.
His result added to India’s successful outing in Riyadh, where several athletes managed to perform strongly against experienced international competitors.
Relay Team Ends Campaign on High Note
The Indian men’s 4x100m relay team capped off the event with a first-place finish. The quartet crossed the line in 40.49 seconds, comfortably ahead of host nation Saudi Arabia, which recorded 41.89 seconds. Although five teams had initially entered the competition, only two teams eventually started the relay race.
India’s overall performance at the Saudi Athletics Grand Prix reflected the growing depth and confidence of the country’s athletics programme. With multiple podium finishes and victories across events, the athletes continued to build momentum ahead of major competitions later this season.