Ranchi: It was day three of the national records. However, two supercharged athletes refused to rest on their laurels. On a charged evening at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium where the 2026 National Federation Senior Athletics Championship was underway, Indian sprinting witnessed something it had never seen before. Gurindervir Singh stopped the clock at 10.09 seconds, becoming the first Indian to breach the 10.10 barrier and enter the elusive “10.0s” territory.
10.09 seconds! ⚡
Gurindervir Singh, you have rewritten history. The entire nation is incredibly proud of you! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/JmyS7e1IVV
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) May 24, 2026
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Sports Minister took to the X social media platform to congratulate Gurvindervir Singh and shared the winning race video.
Records rewritten, limits redefined! 🇮🇳🔥
A sensational show at the 2026 National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi as India’s athletes continue to raise the bar higher! 💪
⚡ Gurindervir Singh clocks an outstanding 10.09s in Men’s 100m
⚡ TOPS Athlete Vishal… pic.twitter.com/8WLuIalp11— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) May 23, 2026
Two sprinters, Two contrasting styles, One shared mission
But this was not a standalone moment. It was the culmination of one of the most extraordinary 24-hour stretches in Indian athletics. On a hot summer day in what may be India’s worst heatwave stretch in recent history, two men set records on fire.
The drama began a day earlier. In the semifinals, Gurindervir clocked 10.17s to break the existing national record. Barely ten minutes later, Animesh Kujur responded with 10.15s, snatching it back. Two sprinters, two contrasting styles and one shared mission.
By the time they lined up for the final, the stage was set for something special. Few, however, expected history to be rewritten so emphatically.
The final: where 10.10s fell, and more. Animesh, relaxed and confident, leaned on his long-stride acceleration. Gurindervir, compact and explosive, attacked the start with raw intensity. At 80 metres, it was still a contest. Over the final stretch, it became a statement.
Gurindervir powered through the line in 10.09s. Animesh followed in 10.20s, a time that itself would have been a national record not long ago. Three records had fallen in barely a day. But more importantly, a psychological barrier had been smashed.
For years, 10.10 had loomed over Indian sprinting like an invisible ceiling. Gurindervir didn’t just reach it. He ran straight through it.
Task is not finished yet
As he crossed the line, Gurindervir tore off his bib and roared. When he picked it up again, the message was clear: “Task is not finished yet”.
Printed on it was a target he had come chasing the ‘10.10s’ double underlined. He had aimed for it. He had obliterated it. “The semifinal plan was to go full tilt for 80m and relax,” he said. “In the final, I had to go 100%.” India now knows what his 100 per cent looks like. Not an easy journey.
Behind the record lies a story far from smooth
Gurindervir’s rise was nearly derailed by a serious health condition that led to rapid weight loss, fatigue and muscle deterioration. At one point, his career stood on the brink. There was little institutional support in that phase. The comeback demanded not just physical rebuilding, but mental resilience.
The turning point came with structured backing from Reliance Foundation, where access to scientific training, nutrition, recovery systems and elite training partners reshaped his trajectory. Training alongside rivals like Animesh, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain created a competitive ecosystem that pushed him forward.
“We push each other,” he said. “If he runs fast, I want to run faster”. From Punjab’s fields to India’s fastest man. Hailing from near Jalandhar, Gurindervir’s journey began on modest local grounds. Supported by his father, a Punjab Police constable, he pursued sprinting with quiet conviction.
Heartiest congratulations to Gurindervir Singh, son of Retd. ASI Kamaljit Singh, on creating history for Indian athletics.
By clocking an extraordinary 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100m, Gurindervir has become the first Indian ever to break the 10.1-second barrier — a landmark… pic.twitter.com/feKWIoMGJd
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) May 25, 2026
Early promise came with a gold at the Asian U18 Championships in 2017. What followed were years of struggle, setbacks, and rebuilding. Now, he stands as India’s fastest man ever. Comparisons have already begun, with some invoking Milkha Singh, the original “Flying Sikh”. Others point to the global benchmark set by Usain Bolt and his 9.58s world record.
2nd Flying Sikh is BORN! Gurindervir Singh has shattered the national record, 100M in 10.09 seconds.Very close to Usain Bolt’s 9.58s world record, Just half second away from history! Congratulations champion. Waheguru ji kripa rakhan sher putt te! #GurindervirSingh #FlyingSikh pic.twitter.com/EmiMqtYU13
— H S Phoolka (@hsphoolka) May 24, 2026
Gurindervir is still some distance away from that realm. But for Indian athletics, this is uncharted territory.
What comes next
Both Gurindervir and Animesh have now gone under the qualification mark for major international events, including the Commonwealth Games. More importantly, they have changed the conversation.
For decades, Indian sprinting hovered in the mid-10s. Now, the 10.0s have been breached. The next frontier is clear. “Soon, the world will see Indians running below 10 seconds”, Gurindervir said after the race.
A bold claim. But after what unfolded in Ranchi, it no longer sounds far-fetched. Because for the first time, Indian sprinting is not chasing the impossible. It is chasing the next tenth of a second.
