On a historic evening at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, Odisha’s sprint sensation Animesh Kujur stole the spotlight, thrilling thousands of fans as he stormed to victory in the Men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet, the first-ever World Athletics global competition to be held in India. Cheered on by a packed home crowd, the 22-year-old Odisha athlete clocked 20.77 seconds to clinch gold, leaving his rivals trailing behind. South Korea’s Ko Seunghwan secured silver with a time of 20.95 seconds, while India’s Ragul Kumar from Tamil Nadu took bronze in 21.17 seconds.

Although Kujur narrowly missed his personal best of 20.32 seconds, the charismatic sprinter did not disappoint his fans. Known for his showmanship, he celebrated his win with his trademark Usain Bolt-style pose, drawing loud cheers from the stands. Kujur, who holds the national records in both 100m and 200m, had earlier missed out on qualifying for the 100m final in the meet. However, his 200m triumph reaffirmed his status as one of India’s premier sprinters and a rising star in world athletics.

Adding to the electric atmosphere was Olly, the official mascot of the event, who roamed the stadium, interacting with fans, dignitaries, and athletes, keeping spirits high throughout the evening. Kujur’s gold-medal performance came on the heels of another Odisha triumph earlier in the day, when Pragyan Prasanti Sahu won the Women’s 100m Hurdles final, serving as the perfect appetiser for the home crowd before the men’s 200m showdown.

The event not only marked a significant milestone for Indian athletics but also showcased Odisha’s emergence as a hub for world-class sporting events, with the Kalinga Stadium providing a fitting backdrop for unforgettable sporting moments.