Ranchi, May 23: Indian sprinting witnessed a historic breakthrough on Saturday (May 23) as Gurindervir Singh stormed to a sensational national record of 10.09s in the men's 100m final at the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi.
The Punjab sprinter produced the race of his life at the Birsa Munda Stadium to become the fastest Indian man ever over 100m, reclaiming the national record from Animesh Kujur less than 24 hours after losing it.
Gurindervir's stunning run also helped him breach the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 10.16s, sealing his spot for Glasgow 2026 in emphatic fashion.
National Record Changes Hands Twice in Two Days
The Ranchi meet has turned into one of the most memorable sprint competitions in Indian athletics history.
On Friday (May 22), Gurindervir had first broken the
national record in the semifinals after clocking 10.17s, improving upon Animesh Kujur's previous mark of 10.18s set in 2025.
But only minutes later, Kujur responded brilliantly with a sensational 10.15s run in the second semifinal to reclaim the national record and qualify for the Commonwealth Games. The rivalry, however, reached another level in Saturday's final.
Gurindervir exploded off the blocks and maintained his rhythm perfectly through the finish line to clock a jaw-dropping 10.09s, once again rewriting the national record books.
Gurindervir Singh Defeats Animesh Kujur in Final
Animesh Kujur, who entered the final as the national record holder, finished second with 10.20s.
Pranav Pramod secured bronze after clocking 10.29s, while Bihar's rising sprinter Vibhaskar Kumar finished fourth with 10.39s.
The quality of sprinting displayed in Ranchi marks a major leap forward for Indian athletics, with multiple athletes now consistently threatening the 10.20-second barrier.
Men's 100m Final Results
🥇 Gurindervir Singh - 10.09s (National Record)
🥈 Animesh Kujur - 10.20s
🥉 Pranav Pramod - 10.29s
4️⃣ Vibhaskar Kumar - 10.39s
5️⃣ Lalu Prasad Bhoi - 10.46s
6️⃣ Manav R - 10.47s
Historic Moment for Indian Sprinting
Gurindervir's 10.09s is now the fastest timing ever recorded by an Indian sprinter in the men's 100m. Soon after he crossed the finish line, the Reliance athlete, removed his bib and raised for the camera persons and spectators what he had written on it, "Task 10.10 is Not Finished Yet. Wait I am still Standing. "
Interacting with the AFI after his race, Gurindervir said, "Soon the world will see Indians run below 10 seconds. "
More importantly, the performances of both Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur suggest Indian sprinting is entering a completely new era.
Within the span of just two days, the national record was broken three different times in Ranchi - a moment few would have imagined even a few years ago.
For Gurindervir Singh, though, this was not just about reclaiming a record. It was the race that officially established him as India's fastest man.
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