Tamil Nadu’s Ranjith Kumar has turned an eight-month sprint into an international breakthrough, emerging as an Asian U-20 bronze medallist in the men’s 4x400m relay after taking up athletics only last year. The 18-year-old from Pudukkottai district competed in his first state-level race in March, and has now returned from Hong Kong with a medal from his first international competition.
The quarter-miler’s rise matters because it underlines how quickly a young athlete can progress with the right guidance and opportunities, moving from local training to state meets, national selection events and then a continental podium within months.
From a late start to a defining relay leg
Ranjith’s entry into athletics began after a short stint playing football for about three months at a local club. He switched to track in August on the advice of his school friend Balamurugan, a state-level runner. Ranjith said Balamurugan helped him with the basics for about a month, though he found the early phase difficult.
His pathway changed when coach K Kannan spotted him during a training session in Tiruchirappalli. Ranjith then began training professionally under Kannan, who is also a manager at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) hostel in Tiruchirappalli. Kannan guided him to take up the 400m, and the progress that followed was rapid.
At the Asian U-20 meet, Ranjith delivered what the report described as his defining moment in the third leg of the men’s 4x400m relay. He received the baton with India in fifth place and moved past rivals to bring the team into bronze-medal position. Mohammed Ashfaq then held on to third place in the anchor leg, allowing India to finish with a medal.
That relay leg became the key snapshot of Ranjith’s new career: a young runner, still early in his competitive journey, stepping into a high-stakes segment and changing the team’s position during the race.
Fast results on the domestic circuit
Ranjith won gold in his first junior state-level meet in Chennai in March. That performance earned him a spot in the U-20 state team for the National Relay Carnival in Chandigarh. He then finished third in the U-20 Federation Cup in Tumkur, which secured his berth in India’s relay squad for the Asian meet.
Reflecting on the speed of his ascent, Ranjith said that when he began training eight months ago, he did not expect to come this far. He described winning a medal in his first international competition as a surreal feeling, adding that he was under pressure and focused on putting in full effort.
Family support and early sacrifices
The report also highlighted the support behind his progress. Ranjith’s mother works as a helper in a government hospital, while his father, who has health issues, is a daily wage labourer. Ranjith said his parents support him in every way they can.
He recalled wearing spikes for the first time at the state meet, with the pair bought by his coach. Later, his parents managed to buy a pair for the National Relay Carnival. Ranjith said that whenever he needs something, his mother, if required, pledges her jewellery—adding that this is how she bought him spikes and sent him to Bengaluru for the national camp ahead of the Asian meet. The report also noted that Ranjith is an avid fan of jallikattu and is a second-year bachelor’s student in history.
What’s next: World U-20 selection target
Ranjith did not compete in the individual 400m at the Asian U-20 competition because he finished third in the Federation Cup final, and only the top two were selected for the individual event. His coach feels that Ranjith lacks experience running in high-pressure situations, but is hopeful that he will improve.
In less than two weeks, selection for the World U-20 Championships is set to take place at the Indian Open Series 10 meet in Thiruvananthapuram. Kannan said that if Ranjith clocks 46.50 seconds—his personal best is 46.84 seconds—he can make it to the India squad.
For now, the medal in Hong Kong stands as the clearest marker of his momentum: a late start, quick progression through state and national competitions, and a decisive relay leg that helped deliver an Asian U-20 bronze.