The men’s 100m is set for a fiercely contested Round 1 at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with India’s Animesh Kujur facing a strong field in Heat 1.
Kujur enters the opening round with a 10.14-second season best, placing him second-fastest in his heat behind Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, who owns a 9.99-second best.
With the top three from each heat qualifying automatically for the next round, along with six fastest non-automatic qualifiers, every hundredth of a second could prove important.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s 100m: Heat 1 Line-up
| Athlete | Country/Territory | Personal/Season Best |
|---|---|---|
| Puripol Boonson | Thailand | 9.99s |
| Animesh Kujur | India | 10.14s |
| Keli Zeng | China | 10.18s |
| Mouzinho Belo | Timor-Leste | 10.44s |
| Muhammad Subri | Malaysia | 10.44s |
| Kum Ryom Jo | North Korea | 10.44s |
| Ibadulla Adam | Maldives | 11.12s |
Puripol Boonson Leads the Field
Thailand’s Puripol Boonson is the standout name in Heat 1 after breaking the 10-second barrier with a 9.99-second personal best.
That mark gives Boonson a clear advantage on paper and puts him among the leading contenders in the Asian Games 100m.
For the remaining automatic qualifying places, attention will turn to the battle between Kujur and China’s Keli Zeng, who has a 10.18-second personal best.
Kujur Faces Key Battle With Keli Zeng
Kujur’s 10.14s makes him the second-fastest athlete in the heat on the listed marks.
However, the gap to Zeng is only 0.04 seconds, leaving little room for error in the opening round.
Behind them, Mouzinho Belo, Muhammad Subri and Kum Ryom Jo all arrive with 10.44-second marks. The trio will be looking to take advantage of any mistakes from the athletes ahead of them.
In a 100m race, a slow start can quickly change the qualifying picture. Kujur will therefore need a clean start and a strong finish to secure one of the automatic qualifying positions.
India’s Sprint Challenge
Kujur’s appearance adds another important chapter to India’s growing presence in the men’s 100m at the continental level.
India will also have national record holder Gurindervir Singh competing in another heat, giving the country two strong entries in the blue-riband sprint.
For Kujur, the immediate target is straightforward: finish inside the top three and avoid relying on one of the six fastest-loser places.
With Boonson, Zeng and a tightly packed chasing group all in the same heat, Heat 1 promises an intense start to the Asian Games men’s 100m competition.