James Hillier Hails Animesh : The World Athletics Championships, starting in Tokyo on Saturday, will see Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre athlete Animesh Kujur represent India at the global showpiece event. Animesh is the reigning national record holder as well as the national champion in his event (men’s 200m).
Animesh, in fact, is the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the Worlds in the short sprint events. (https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaZwBwCEfK/?hl=en&img_index=1)
James Hillier, Athletics Director, at Reliance Foundation spoke about the magnitude of his achievements, saying, “Animesh is making history and breaking down barriers that we didn’t think were possible. When I first came to India, I constantly heard that Indians couldn’t sprint and we have disproved that myth. We have changed the belief system and it is culmination of many years of hard work and support from the Odisha government as well as the Reliance Foundation to have an Indian sprinter competing at the very highest level.”
James called Animesh, who trains at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre under coach Martin Owens, a true trailblazer. Animesh will aim to make a mark on his World Athletics Championships debut, competing against the best in the world at one of the iconic venues in athletics.
