Desk : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the remarkable achievements of Indian athletes during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, stating that the national record in the men’s 100-metre race was broken three times within two days during the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition 2026 held in Ranchi.
During the programme, the Prime Minister interacted with sprinters Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, who spoke about their training, friendship, and healthy rivalry. Gurindervir said that while they support and motivate each other during practice sessions, they become competitors once they step onto the track.
Gurindervir Singh, who serves in the Indian Navy, said he is currently the country’s fastest sprinter and has set a new national record by completing the 100-metre race in 10.09 seconds. Recalling a childhood memory, he shared that his mother often discouraged him from watching television and urged him to focus on his studies. In response, he had told her that one day she would watch him on television. “Today, I feel very happy when my parents watch me on TV,” he said.
The 25-year-old sprinter delivered a sensational performance at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi earlier this month, becoming the first Indian man to break the 10.10-second barrier in the prestigious blue-riband event. His record-breaking run not only rewrote the national record books but also secured qualification for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The competition witnessed a dramatic sequence of record-breaking performances. In the semifinals, Gurindervir clocked 10.17 seconds to establish a new national record. However, the mark stood only briefly, as fellow sprinter Animesh Kujur surpassed it with a time of 10.15 seconds. In the final, Gurindervir reclaimed the record emphatically by clocking a historic 10.09 seconds, while both athletes secured qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the sprinter on his achievement. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “10.09 seconds! Gurindervir Singh, you have rewritten history. The entire nation is incredibly proud of you.”
Sports experts believe that Gurindervir’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics and signals the emergence of a new era in Indian sprinting, strengthening hopes of success at major international competitions in the years ahead.