Tamil Nadu’s Neil Samraj produced a sensational performance at the 21st National Youth Athletics Championships 2026 in Ludhiana.
He won the men’s 100m gold and broke India’s U18 national record twice on the same day.
Samraj Breaks Record in Semifinal
Samraj first set a new mark in the semifinals.
He clocked 10.53s.
But he was not done yet.
In the final, the Tamil Nadu sprinter raised the bar even higher.
He stormed to victory in 10.46s and broke the U18 national record for the second time in a matter of hours.
The 10.46s performance also makes Samraj the fastest Indian youth over 100m.
The result underlines his emergence as one of the country’s most exciting young sprint prospects.
Samraj Wanted More
Samraj’s reaction after the race made the performance even more interesting.
Despite winning the national title and setting another record, the youngster was not completely satisfied with his time.
His target was to break the 10.40-second barrier.
Samraj also made it clear that he believes he can achieve that mark later this season.
His confidence adds another layer to what was already a remarkable day in Ludhiana.
He improved from 10.53s in the semifinal to 10.46s in the final.
Samraj also showed his ability to deliver when it mattered most.
A Remarkable Day in Ludhiana
The performance could prove to be an important milestone in his development.
Indian athletics continues to build depth in the sprint events.
For now, Neil Samraj leaves the Youth Nationals with gold, two U18 national records in one day, and the fastest 100m time ever recorded by an Indian youth.
And if his own words are anything to go by, 10.40s may only be the next target.