"So I have to prove them wrong"
Gurindervir Singh has etched his name into athletics history after becoming the first Indian sprinter to break the 10.10-second barrier in the 100m.
The Punjabi sprinter produced a standout run at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, clocking 10.09 seconds.
His time also secured the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifying mark set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
It places him as the second fastest Asian sprinter this season, behind Japan’s Fukuto Komuro, who ran 10.08 seconds in May.
The performance capped a remarkable few days of record-breaking exchanges between Gurindervir Singh and compatriot Animesh Kujur.
Singh had initially set a new national record in the heats with 10.17 seconds, only for Kujur to edge it with 10.15 seconds.
Singh then responded in the final to reclaim the record in emphatic fashion, finishing ahead of Kujur, who was 0.11 seconds behind in the final.
For Indian athletics, the rivalry has quickly become a defining subplot of the sprinting season, with both athletes pushing the national standard higher in rapid succession.
Gurindervir Singh’s consistency across rounds highlighted both his physical conditioning and ability to respond under pressure at major domestic championships.
Reflecting on the early perceptions surrounding his event choice, Singh addressed long-standing stereotypes about Indian sprinting potential in the 100m:
“When I started, around the time when I was in sixth, seventh standard.
“From that time, people used to tell me that there is no future in 100m. Indians cannot run 100m. Choose 400m.
“This is where everyone runs. Indians do not have the genes for spriting.
“So I have to prove them wrong and show that there is nothing above Indian genes.”
The rivalry with Animesh Kujur has also played a central role in his motivation, with Singh openly acknowledging the competitive push both athletes are providing each other on the national stage:
“It is a very good thing and it must keep happening. Until there is a rivalry, people would not enjoy it. I am also enjoying running.
“Thank you to him as well that he left football to come in athletics and run 100m.”
“Since he came, mentality has increased that more good people are coming so we have to up our game.”
Despite the record-breaking run and growing attention, Gurindervir Singh stressed that improvement through training remains his primary focus.
With qualification standards secured and national records falling in quick succession, his season now turns towards consistency on the international stage.
Loading ...