New Delhi:Indian sprinting witnessed a historic moment in Ranchi as Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100m final at the Federation Cup 2026, becoming the first Indian athlete to run below the 10.10-second barrier.
The 24-year-old Punjab sprinter not only broke the national record but also secured qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. With the performance, Gurindervir officially earned the title of India’s fastest man.
The record-breaking sprint capped a dramatic day on the track. Earlier in the semifinals, Gurindervir had clocked 10.17 seconds to briefly set a new national record. However, fellow sprinter Animesh Kujur soon bettered it with 10.15 seconds. In the final, Gurindervir responded in emphatic fashion, producing a sensational 10.09-second run to reclaim the record.
Gurindervir’s journey began after being inspired by sprint legend Usain Bolt during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Growing up in Punjab’s Patial village near Jalandhar, he initially competed in local races before moving to the Punjab Institute of Sports, where he trained under coach Sarabjit Singh.
His breakthrough came in 2018 when he set a national junior record of 10.47 seconds at the Federation Cup National Junior Championships. But his rise was not without setbacks. Serious digestive health issues disrupted his training and affected his fitness for nearly two years.
After months of recovery and rebuilding, Gurindervir returned strongly in 2025, clocking 10.20 seconds at the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru. Since then, he has continued improving steadily.
Earlier this year, he also set a national record in the men’s 60m with a timing of 6.60 seconds. Now, after his historic sprint in Ranchi, Gurindervir heads to the Commonwealth Games carrying the hopes of Indian athletics.
