Indian athletics witnessed a landmark moment at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi as Gurindervir Singh rewrote the men’s 100m national record twice in two days. After briefly holding the record on Friday, the Punjab sprinter returned on Saturday with a sensational 10.09-second sprint, becoming the first Indian ever to break the 10.10-second barrier.

Record-Breaking Rivalry with Animesh Kujur

Gurindervir clocked his historic timing in the 100m final on May 23, reclaiming the national record from Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur and securing qualification for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. The rivalry between the two sprinters had already electrified the semifinals a day earlier, with Gurindervir briefly breaking Animesh’s 10.18-second record by clocking 10.17 seconds, only for Kujur to respond with a stunning 10.15-second run. Kujur’s performance also ensured his Commonwealth Games qualification, while Gurindervir had narrowly missed the mark by just 0.01 seconds.

On Saturday, Gurindervir returned in emphatic fashion, shattering the 10.10 barrier with his 10.09-second sprint. Animesh finished second at 10.20 seconds, while Pranav Promod completed the podium with 10.29 seconds. Coached by James Hillier, Gurindervir’s explosive performance, combined with Kujur’s consistency under mentor Martin Owens, has ignited one of the most exciting sprint rivalries in Indian athletics in recent years.

Shaping the Future of Indian Sprinting

This milestone marks a defining moment for Indian sprinting, as the long-awaited 10.10-second barrier is finally crossed. Gurindervir Singh’s historic feat, alongside Animesh Kujur’s strong performances, signals a new era in Indian athletics, inspiring the next generation and raising expectations ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games.