Punjab’s speed, India’s pride — Gurindervir Singh
Saturday became a landmark day in the history of Indian athletics. During the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi, Punjab’s star sprinter Gurindervir Singh created history by setting a new national record in the men’s 100 metres, breaking the long-standing mark and becoming one of India’s fastest-ever athletes.
A blistering sprint at Birsa Munda Stadium
Representing the Reliance Foundation, 25-year-old Gurindervir Singh clocked an outstanding 10.09 seconds in the final at Birsa Munda Football Stadium to win the gold medal.
With this electrifying run, he surpassed the previous national record of 10.18 seconds. He also comfortably achieved the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 10.16 seconds.
This performance is Gurindervir’s personal best so far. With this timing, he moved up to become the second-fastest sprinter in Asia this season, behind only Japan’s 19-year-old sprinter Fukuto Komuro, who had recorded 10.08 seconds earlier in May.
Congratulations from Punjab Chief Minister
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated Gurindervir Singh on this historic achievement.
In a post shared on social media platform X, he described it as a proud moment for both Punjab and the entire country and said the whole state takes pride in Gurindervir’s historic accomplishment.
Speaking after his victory, Gurindervir Singh said that mental strength played a major role in helping him stay focused during the race. He credited his family, coaches and support staff for their continuous encouragement and contribution to his success.
In the same event, Odisha’s Animesh Kujur won the silver medal with 10.20 seconds, while Pranav Pramod secured bronze with 10.29 seconds.
Vishal Tike and Tejaswin Shankar also created history
The day also witnessed two more major national records.
Twenty-two-year-old Vishal Tike of Tamil Nadu won gold in the men’s 400 metres with a time of 44.98 seconds, becoming the first Indian athlete to break the 45-second barrier. However, he narrowly missed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark by 0.02 seconds.
Meanwhile, Asian Games silver medallist Tejaswin Shankar crossed the 8,000-point mark in decathlon for the first time, breaking his own national record. He also crossed the Commonwealth qualification mark of 7,787 points and moved to seventh place on Asia’s all-time list.
With three national records broken during this Federation Cup, including two within just 30 minutes, the event highlighted the rapid progress and rising standards of Indian athletics.
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