Commonwealth Games 2026: Animesh Kujur misses out on men's 200m final after finishing 17th in semis
(Courtesy : SonyLiv/Screenshot)
Animesh Kujur clocked 20.65 seconds in the semi-finals
India’s national record holder Animesh Kujur failed to qualify for the men’s 200m final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after finishing sixth in his heat in the second semi-final in Glasgow on Thursday.
Kujur clocked 20.65 seconds in his semi-final to end 17th in the overall list. Since only the first two from each heat and the next two fastest [overall] advance to the final, the Indian sprinter’s campaign in the event came to an end after he had produced a strong performance in the opening round.
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The 23-year-old had progressed from the heats on Wednesday after winning his race in 20.46 seconds. However, Kujur could not reproduce that pace in the next round. His 20.65-second effort left him sixth in Semi-final 2, ending his hopes of featuring in the men’s 200m final.
South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile produced the fastest time in qualifying, clocking 19.82s. He was joined by Aaron Brown [10.90] of Canada, Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy [20.52], Jamaican duo Christopher Taylor [20.20] and Jevaughn Powell [20.24], Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike [20.22], Ghana’s Joseph Amoah [20.24] and Prince Selepe [20.31] of Botswana.
For the Indian athlete, the result will be a disappointment after his encouraging performance in the heats. However, reaching the semi-final stage at a major multi-sport event represents another important international experience for a sprinter who has continued to improve over the past few seasons.
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The Indian sprinter had entered the competition as one of the country’s biggest names in track events. He holds the national record in the men’s 200m with a time of 20.32 seconds, set at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, South Korea.
Kujur’s record-breaking run in Gumi also earned him a bronze medal in the event. He finished behind Japan’s Towa Uzawa and Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Abdui Atafi in the final, with his 20.32-second performance establishing a new Indian record.
The national record remains the biggest milestone of Kujur’s career so far and has established him as one of India’s leading short-distance runners.
What was Animesh Kujur’s timing in the men’s 200m semi-final at Commonwealth Games 2026?
Animesh Kujur clocked 20.65 seconds in the men’s 200m semi-final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 and finished 17th overall.
At which position did Animesh Kujur finish in the semi-final?
Animesh Kujur crossed the finish line in 20.65 seconds, finishing sixth in his heat and 17th overall.
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Haritmaa Sharma is an aspiring sports journalist with hands-on experience in investigative reporting, digital content creation, and event coverage. Passionate about telling stories that go beyond the scoreboard—especially in cricket, racket sports, grassroots football, and emerging sports narratives.