Abinaya Rajarajan: India’s Rising Sprint Sensation
Early Life and Background
Born on November 21, 2006, Abinaya Rajarajan is an 18-year-old track and field athlete from Tamil Nadu, India, who has rapidly emerged as one of the country’s most promising sprinters. Originally from the village of Kalluthu in the Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu, Abinaya’s journey into athletics began unexpectedly—she started running simply to skip mathematics classes at school.
Despite running her first competitive race barefoot in her school uniform skirt, her natural speed was immediately evident. Her father, Rajarajan, who runs a stone quarry business, recognized his daughter’s exceptional talent when she was hand-timed at around 14 seconds in her first race, significantly faster than her peers despite having no formal training.
Family Support and Sacrifice
Abinaya’s family made tremendous sacrifices to support her athletic ambitions. Her father, who had always hoped one of his children would become a sportsperson, relocated the entire family from their village to the town of Tenkasi so she could train at the Falcons Athletic Academy under coach Rositto Sax, a former Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist. When financial constraints made it difficult to afford her diet, coaching, and travel expenses for competitions across India, Abinaya moved to the SAI Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to continue her development.
Track and Field Accomplishments
Personal Bests
Abinaya’s personal best times include 11.54 seconds in the 100 meters (achieved on April 21, 2025), 24.39 seconds in the 200 meters (June 12, 2024), and she was part of the 4x100m relay team that clocked 43.86 seconds.
National Records
Abinaya is the national record holder in both the U-18 and U-20 categories for the 100 meters. In December 2024 at the Junior National Championships in Bhubaneswar, she clocked 11.62 seconds in the heats to equal the decade-old junior national record set by two-time Olympian Dutee Chand, though she expressed disappointment at not breaking it outright.
Major International Achievements
Asian Athletics Championships 2025 (Gumi, South Korea) Abinaya was part of the Indian women’s 4x100m relay team (alongside Srabani Nanda, Sneha SS, and Nithya Gandhe) that won the silver medal with a time of 43.86 seconds, finishing behind China but ahead of Thailand. This achievement also secured the relay team’s qualification for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo.
Asian U-20 Championships Abinaya is a bronze medallist at the Asian U-20 Championships, adding to her impressive collection of international medals.
World U-20 Championships 2024 (Lima, Peru) Abinaya competed at the World U-20 Championships in Lima in both the 100m and 4x100m relay events, though she struggled with the cold conditions and breathing difficulties at the high altitude.
National Championships Success
Abinaya is a national champion in her events. At the 2024 National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, she won the U-18 100m gold with a new meet record of 11.66 seconds, breaking the previous record of 11.89 seconds set by Rashmi Sheregar in 2015. This marked her third consecutive gold medal in the U-18 category at the Junior Nationals.
Continental Tour and Recent Competitions
In her third major international appearance in 2025, Abinaya won gold in the women’s 100m final at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Meet in Bhubaneswar with a time of 11.70 seconds. She also took first place in the 100m at the Indian Grand Prix 2, defeating established stars like Sneha SS, Nithya Gandhe, and Srabani Nanda, and secured silver at the Federation Cup in Kochi with her personal best of 11.54 seconds.
At the National Inter-State Athletics Championships 2025, she was part of the Tamil Nadu women’s 4x100m relay team (with Pavithra R, Angel Silvia, and Dhanalakshmi) that set a new national record with a time of 44.73 seconds.
Recognition and Support
Following her silver medal performance at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, Abinaya was added to India’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) developmental group along with her relay teammates. TOPS is a flagship program of the Indian sports ministry dedicated to identifying potential Olympic medal winners and supporting their training through financial and infrastructural aid.
Athletic Profile and Training Philosophy
Standing at 174 centimeters (approximately 5’9″), Abinaya is fairly tall for a female sprinter. While her long limbs typically result in slower starts compared to athletes with shorter builds, they provide a distinct advantage in the second half of races. She originally attempted hurdles, taking advantage of her height, but decided to focus exclusively on the 100m after picking up injuries.
Personal Interests and Passion for the Sport
Abinaya describes herself as passionate about sprinting, stating that she loves competing and enjoys being the fastest runner in a group. She particularly enjoys speed workouts in training more than any other aspect. She considers herself somewhat of a track and field enthusiast, knowing down to the microsecond the timings of her competitors in India and following her international role models, particularly American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
On her Instagram profile, she playfully refers to herself as “Lightning McQueen,” reflecting her speed and competitive spirit. Her favorite sweet is kaju katli, which her father bought for her after her victories at the Junior Nationals.
Challenges and Perseverance
Abinaya has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of health challenges. She has been managing a lung condition while competing at the highest levels, showcasing her determination and mental strength. Despite these difficulties, she continues to compete and improve her performances.
Current Status and Future Prospects
As of 2025, Abinaya ranks #284 in the world in the women’s 100 meters. At just 18 years old and representing India on the international stage, she has already achieved remarkable success with Asian Championship medals, national records, and qualification for the World Championships.
With her natural talent, dedicated family support, professional training at the SAI Centre, and inclusion in the TOPS developmental program, Abinaya Rajarajan represents a bright future for Indian sprinting. Her journey from running barefoot to avoid math class to becoming one of India’s premier sprint talents is a testament to her determination, her father’s unwavering support, and her passion for the sport. As she continues to develop and mature as an athlete, the athletics community eagerly anticipates her future performances on both the continental and world stages.
Go Abinaya!
