India is set to be represented by two athletes in the
Kujur delivered a determined performance in the opening heat, clocking 10.36 seconds to finish in third place. Although he faced significant pressure during the initial phase of the race, he managed to accelerate over the final 25 metres to ensure his qualification. The heat was won by Thailand’s Puripol Boonson in 9.95 seconds, with China’s Keli Zeng taking second place in 10.22 seconds.
Strong Displays Secure Semifinal Berths
In the fourth heat, Gurindervir Singh demonstrated consistency to finish second with a time of 10.38 seconds. He maintained a competitive pace throughout the sprint, trailing only Oman’s Malham Al Balushi, who crossed the line first in 10.29 seconds. Iran’s Hassan Taftian rounded out the top three in that heat with a time of 10.46 seconds.
The qualification criteria for the event required athletes to finish within the top three of their respective heats to earn an automatic spot in the semifinals. An additional six fastest runners from across the heats also advanced to the next stage. With their successful runs, both Indian sprinters have now turned their attention to the upcoming semifinals, which are scheduled to take place on Friday.
The heats featured a high level of competition, highlighted by Boonson’s impressive 9.95-second run, which fell just 0.03 seconds short of the current Asian Games record. For Kujur and Gurindervir, the focus now shifts to the medal-stage races as they look to build upon their current form in one of the most anticipated track events of the Games.
