Animesh Kujur Reaches 200m Final After Finishing Second in Semifinal at Asian Games 2026

Animesh Kujur bounced back from the disappointment of missing the men’s 100m final by securing his place in the 200m final at the Asian Games 2026.

The Indian sprinter clocked 20.81 seconds to finish second in the third semifinal and earn an automatic qualification for the eight-man final. Thailand’s Puripol Boonson won the race in spectacular fashion, stopping the clock at 20.10 seconds to break the Asian Games record. The 100m champion was already well clear of the field before easing off significantly in the closing stages.

For Animesh, however, the focus was firmly on his own qualification. His second-place finish ensured that he moved into the final and gave him another opportunity to compete for an Asian Games medal. The final will take place on September 27 at 4:05 PM IST.

Animesh’s qualification carries additional significance because of what happened in the 100m. The Indian had reached the semifinal of the shorter sprint but failed to qualify for the final, finishing seventh in his semifinal. The 200m therefore offered an immediate opportunity to respond.

He delivered when it mattered. Running in lane six alongside Boonson, Animesh remained firmly in contention and crossed the line second in 20.81 seconds. The performance was enough for direct qualification and placed him eighth overall among the semifinalists—the final qualifying spot for the eight-man final.

The result means Animesh will now get another chance to challenge for a major championship medal.

While Animesh secured qualification, the headline performance of the semifinal belonged to Puripol Boonson. The Thai sprinter stormed to victory in 20.10 seconds, breaking the Asian Games record. What made the performance particularly striking was that Boonson slowed significantly during the final stretch after establishing a substantial advantage over the rest of the field.

Despite easing off, he still produced a 20.10-second run and comfortably won the semifinal. Boonson entered the race as the reigning Asian Games 100m champion and now heads into the 200m final as the fastest qualifier. Animesh, meanwhile, will have to find another level if he is to challenge the leading contenders in the final.

Animesh’s 20.81 seconds also compares favourably with India’s previous Asian Games 200m finalist. At the 2022 Asian Games, Amlan Borgohain clocked 21.03 seconds in his semifinal before running 20.98 seconds in the final to finish sixth. Animesh has already gone 0.22 seconds faster than Borgohain’s semifinal time.

That gives the Indian sprinter a strong platform heading into the final, although the medal positions will require another high-level performance. His 20.81 was enough to secure the eighth and final qualifying position, making the margins extremely tight among the athletes chasing the remaining final places.

The final field features a strong mix of Asian sprinting talent. Boonson leads the qualifiers with his Games-record 20.10 seconds.

Japan’s Soshi Mizukubo qualified second fastest in 20.37, while China’s Youwen Huang recorded 20.42. Chinese Taipei’s Wu-yen-ming Ke advanced with 20.71, while Hong Kong’s King Wai Yip qualified with 20.74. Malaysia’s Danish Muhammad clocked 20.76, followed by Oman’s Ali Al Balushi in 20.78.

Animesh completes the eight-man field with his 20.81-second semifinal performance. The narrow spread of times behind Boonson means the battle for the remaining podium places could be closely contested.

Animesh’s progression to the final gives Indian athletics another opportunity on the Asian Games stage. His route has already included disappointment and response. After missing out on the 100m final, he has returned to the track and produced a 20.81-second run to reach the 200m final. The final will present a significantly tougher challenge, particularly with Boonson setting a Games record in the semifinal and several other finalists running below 20.80 seconds.

But Animesh has already demonstrated that he can improve when the pressure is high. His semifinal time is faster than the time recorded by India’s last Asian Games 200m finalist in the corresponding stage four years ago.

Now, the next target is the final. Animesh will return to the track on September 27 at 4:05 PM IST, with an Asian Games medal within reach.

For the Indian sprinter, the 200m has already provided a chance to respond to the disappointment of the 100m. The biggest test, however, awaits in the final, where he will line up against seven of Asia’s leading sprinters. The opportunity is there. Animesh has one race left to make the most of it.