Abinaya Rajarajan Breaks Women’s U20 100m National Record in Chennai
Abinaya Rajarajan Sets New U20 100m Record
Indian sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan produced a record-breaking performance at the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai, setting a new national record in the women’s Under-20 100m event. Representing Tamil Nadu, she clocked 11.49 seconds to win gold at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 23, 2026.
The 19-year-old improved her previous national record of 11.54 seconds, which she had set in Kochi in April 2025. Her latest performance also established a new championship record, underlining her position among India’s most promising young sprinters.
Abinaya’s achievement highlighted a strong start for the host state at the national junior meet. Her victory was particularly significant because she improved her own national mark while securing the gold medal against a competitive field of young athletes.
Abinaya Improves Her Own National Record
Abinaya entered the competition as one of the leading contenders in the women’s U20 100m. However, her early-round performances suggested that she still had more speed to find before the final.
She clocked 11.84 seconds in the heats before improving to 11.76 seconds in the semifinals. In the final, she raised her level considerably, finishing in 11.49 seconds to break her previous record by 0.05 seconds.
The performance demonstrated her ability to deliver under pressure on an important occasion. It also marked another milestone in her progress as she continues to develop into a senior-level international sprinter.
Kajal Vaja and Nancy Complete the Podium
Gujarat’s Kajal Vaja finished second in the women’s U20 100m final with a time of 11.61 seconds, while Haryana’s Nancy claimed bronze in 11.83 seconds.
Kajal produced a strong performance but could not match Abinaya’s record-breaking run. Nancy also secured a place on the podium with a consistent effort in the final.
The result gave Tamil Nadu a major sprinting success on the opening day of the championships, with Abinaya taking gold and establishing a new national benchmark.
Abinaya Continues Her Rise in Indian Athletics
Abinaya’s latest achievement adds to an impressive series of performances in 2026. In August, she clocked 11.34 seconds at a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meeting in Bhubaneswar, setting an Indian U20 record at the time.
She subsequently improved her personal best to 11.31 seconds in September, according to World Athletics. Her performances have strengthened her reputation as one of India’s leading young sprint prospects.
Her journey has also involved overcoming injury setbacks. After suffering a serious knee injury at the Asian Indoor Championships in February, Abinaya worked her way back to competitive form. Her return to record-breaking performances reflects the progress she has made during her recovery.
From Injury Recovery to Record-Breaking Form
The injury disrupted Abinaya’s preparations earlier in the season and affected her ambitions in individual sprinting. However, she returned to competition with determination and demonstrated her ability to compete at a high level.
Her performances in Bhubaneswar and Chennai have provided further evidence of her recovery and development. By lowering the U20 national record again at the junior championships, she has continued to raise expectations for her future in Indian athletics.
Neil Samraj Also Breaks the U18 100m Record
Abinaya was not the only Tamil Nadu sprinter to achieve a national record in Chennai. Neil Samraj R also improved his own national record in the men’s U18 100m, clocking 10.45 seconds to win gold.
Neil lowered his previous mark of 10.46 seconds, set earlier in 2026 in Ludhiana. His performance also bettered the championship record of 10.63 seconds, previously held by Anshu Rajak.
The double success gave Tamil Nadu a memorable day in the sprint events, with both athletes winning gold and setting new national records in their respective age categories.
What Lies Ahead for Abinaya Rajarajan?
Abinaya’s record-breaking performance in Chennai marks another important step in her development. Her immediate success at the junior championships provides a strong foundation as she continues to pursue opportunities at the senior international level.
With experience in international relay competitions and improving performances in the individual 100m, she will aim to maintain her progress and challenge stronger fields in upcoming competitions.
Her latest national record also adds momentum to Indian women’s sprinting, offering encouragement for the next generation of athletes. If she continues to build on her current form while staying fit, Abinaya could become an increasingly important name in Indian athletics.
