Punjab has long been regarded as one of India’s greatest sporting nurseries. From hockey and wrestling to athletics and shooting, the state has consistently produced athletes who have carried the nation’s hopes onto the world stage. The latest name to emerge from that proud tradition is Gurindervir Singh, now officially India’s fastest man.
The 25-year-old sprinter created history at the 2026 Federation Cup in Ranchi, clocking a sensational 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100m final. In doing so, he became the first Indian athlete to break the 10.10-second barrier, rewriting the national record books and changing perceptions around Indian sprinting.
“It still feels unreal,” Gurindervir said after the race. “For years, people believed Indian sprinters could not reach this level. I always wanted to prove that we can compete with the best if we believe in ourselves and work hard enough.”
But Gurindervir’s story began far away from packed stadiums and record-breaking performances. Like many athletes from Punjab, his first training ground were the open fields near his home, where running was less about science and more about passion.
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Sport was always a part of life in his family. His father, a police officer and athlete himself, became his earliest inspiration and encouraged him to pursue sprinting seriously.
“My father always pushed me to stay disciplined,” Gurindervir recalled. “He taught me that talent alone is never enough. You have to keep working even when nobody is watching.”
Growing up, Gurindervir dared to dream big in an event where Indian athletes were rarely seen as world-class contenders. Yet the youngster from Punjab never stopped believing that Indian sprinting could reach new heights.
His breakthrough came after joining the Punjab Institute of Sports, where his raw speed quickly began attracting attention. In 2017, he announced himself internationally by winning gold at the Asian U18 Championships.
Just when his career seemed to be gathering momentum, adversity struck. A serious illness caused severe weight loss and drained his energy, threatening to derail the progress he had worked so hard to achieve. The road back became physically and mentally exhausting.
“There was a phase when even training felt difficult,” he admitted. “But somewhere inside me, the dream was still alive. I kept telling myself not to give up.” That fighting spirit eventually transformed his comeback story into one of the most defining moments in Indian athletics.
At the Federation Cup in Ranchi, Gurindervir produced the race of his life, sprinting 100 metres in 10.09 seconds. Remarkably, he broke the national record twice within 24 hours, proving that his historic timing was no fluke. “When I saw the timing, I was emotional,” he said. “All the sacrifices, injuries, struggles and years of hard work suddenly felt worth it.”
Yet the man now called India’s fastest sprinter believes his journey is only beginning. “The Olympics is my biggest dream,” Gurindervir said. “I want young athletes in India to believe that no barrier is impossible. Records are meant to be broken.”
From the fields of Punjab to the history books of Indian athletics, Gurindervir’s rise is now inspiring a new generation to dare and run towards bigger dreams.
BY JOE WILLIAMS
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