Fair winds, fast feet: Sports Min Mandaviya, Indian Navy laud fastest Indian man Gurindervir
New Delhi, May 24
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the Indian Navy lauded sprinter Gurindervir, who became the first sprinter from the country to breach the 10.10-second barrier in the men's 100m.
Gurindervir, 25, entered the record books during the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition 2026 in Ranchi on Saturday. The Punjab's sprinter representing Reliance clocked 10.09 seconds to reclaim his men's 100m crown. He first shattered Animesh Kujur's previous national mark of 10.18s by clocking 10.17s in the opening semifinal heat.
"10.09 seconds! Gurindervir Singh, you have rewritten history. The entire nation is incredibly proud of you!" Mandaviya wrote in an X post.
Gurindervir, who is a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy, also cleared the Athletics Federation of India's qualification mark for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, set at an identical 10.16s.
"#IndianNavy salutes the spirit, speed and dedication of our champion sprinter. Fair winds. Fast feet," the Indian Navy shared on X.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also hailed Gurindervir for his heroics. "India's young sprinter Gurindervir Singh has made the entire nation proud by setting a new national record in the 100-meter race," he posted on X.
"His historic performance of 10.09 seconds at the Federation Cup held in Ranchi is a symbol of the bright future of Indian athletics. This achievement will inspire the youth of the country to dream big and achieve them. Heartiest congratulations to Gurindervir Singh for this splendid success and best wishes for a bright future," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Absolutely proud moment for India! From Neeraj Chopra to Gurindervir, our athletes are shining on the global stage. The navy's support and the sports ministry's encouragement are paying off. But we need more grassroots training facilities in rural areas to find the next champion.
Great achievement, but let's not get carried away. 10.09s is still far from world-class standards (9.6s). We need a systematic approach – better coaching, nutrition, and scientific training. One-off performances won't win Olympic medals. Let's build an ecosystem.
From a small village in Punjab to representing the Indian Navy and breaking national records – this is the real India story. The fact that he's a petty officer while training shows our armed forces are breeding grounds for champions. Let's hope he crosses 10 seconds next! 🔥
Well done Gurindervir! But why does the sports ministry only celebrate after achievements? We need year-round support for athletes – financial aid, world-class facilities, and mental health resources. Still, this is a step forward. Kudos to the navy too! 👏
As an NRI, seeing Indian athletes break barriers makes me emotional. Gurindervir's 10.09s in Ranchi with the Navy's backing shows how far we've come. But let's not forget – we need more tracks and coaches in states like Punjab and Haryana. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Proud moment indeed! But I hope this
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