Gurindervir Singh hails from Patial village (near Bhogpur town) in the Jalandhar district of Punjab. Growing up in the heart of an agrarian country, he did not have access to top-notch training facilities for most of his youth. But from a young age, he exhibited a natural love of running. While most children treat running as a form of play, Gurindervir’s raw speed and agility make him unique.
His life took a turning point when he got an opportunity to shift to Jalandhar to train under coach Sarabjit Singh at the Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS) academy. This step was essential for him, as it gave him access to professional coaching, structured training processes, and an environment of high-performance sports. At PIS, he studied the science of sprinting: stride mechanics, breathing rates, and race strategy.
A Descent With Dignity: Junior Achievements
Gurindervir shot to the national limelight in April 2018 at the 16th Federation Cup National Junior Athletics Championships held in Coimbatore. In the under-20 division, he exhibited creativity and grit. He clocked a new national junior record of 10.47 seconds in the 100m final.
This performance shattered Augustine Yeshudas’s former record of 10.57 seconds, set in 2013. Establishing such a long-standing record was a sign of Gurindervir’s ability. It was a personal triumph and a symbol of India’s blossoming sprinting power.
It opened many doors for him to win gold in this event. His time shattered the previous record and qualified him for numerous notable international meets, including the South Asian Championship, Asian Junior Championship and World U20 Championship. It exposed him to world-class athletes and showed him where he stood internationally.
Junior to Senior Transition and Its Early Stages
Moving up from junior to senior-level competitions is frequently the toughest hurdle young athletes face. The competition intensifies, and the prerequisites soar exponentially. In entering the senior circuit, Gurindervir realised first-hand that sprinters much older than him had several years under their belt.
A breakthrough occurred in June 2021 at Patiala’s 60th National Inter-State Athletics Championships. He broke the meet record in the 100m sprint with 10.27 seconds. This vast improvement made him one of the fastest in India. Finally, the meet record of 10.32 seconds set by Krishna Kumar Rane in 2014 was broken.
Health Issues and Path to Recovery
Coming into his own, Gurindervir’s career was upended by serious health problems. He began having digestive issues, which resulted in unexplained weight loss and a deterioration in his overall form.
Medical consultations showed that the mucous lining of his intestine had been compromised. Because of this disorder, his ability to absorb vital nutrients from food was greatly compromised and gave him constant fatigue. As a competitive athlete, his physical health is paramount, and this had a huge impact on his ability to train effectively and compete at 100 percent of his capability.
For a time, Gurindervir suffered physically and mentally. Unable to do much beyond supervise caretaking, his condition was frustrating, and he avoided discussing it, even with family. He tried to control the problem with a change in diet and medication, but it didn’t help much.
A breakthrough eventually came when his coach’s family doctor suggested traditional medicines and herbal treatments. His attempts were unorthodox, but they started to pay off. In the next two years, he worked on recovering, rebuilding his muscles, and finding his way back to competitive shape.
A Triumphant Return, National Record
Only after two years of waiting did Gurindervir’s patience and determination bear fruit, with an impressive recovery at Indian Grand Prix 1 (IGP 1) in Bengaluru on 28 March 2025. He set a national record in the men’s 100m sprint in the contest, recording a blistering 10.20 seconds.
This time also broke the national record of 10.23 seconds previously held by Manikanta Hoblidhar, who set it in October 2023. The achievement weighed heavily with historical purpose, restoring Gurindervir as India’s fastest man and placing him in the history books.
His effort also cleared the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification guideline of 10.25 seconds for a place in the Asian Athletics Championships later in the year. This was a big step as it was his primary resume of competing internationally after so long.
Why 10.20 Seconds Matters
Being in the sub-10.20-second club is a huge deal in Indian athletics. Yet Indian sprinters have struggled to compete with their international counterparts for decades, starting with whether they are adequately trained and have access to the right infrastructure and exposure.
Gurindervir’s timing indicates that Indian sprinting is slowly closing that gap. His 10.20-second timing now provides a dot on the sprinting map for India of sorts. The best in the world are running under 10 seconds. His capacity to still do this is a testament to his commitment and the increasing competitiveness in Indian athletics.
Training and Support System
One of the biggest reasons Gurindervir has bounced back has been his training environment. Over the past year, he has trained at the Reliance High-Performance Institute in Mumbai. Well known for its top-class training facilities, this centre produces some of the finest sprinters in the country, including Manikanta Hoblidhar, Animesh Kujur, and Amlan Borgohain.
Being raised around such competition has been a big part of his development. Access to specialised coaches, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning experts has worked wonders for refining his technique and improving his performance.
Journey towards the Future and What Lies Ahead
Gurindervir, who has finally spoken in this lifetime, is far from his agenda. As per TOI, he adds, “Now that the national record is mine, I want to make some more.” His short-term goal now is to make the cut for global meets such as the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.
He has spoken confidently about sub-10 at events. 10 seconds would land him among the world’s fastest runners. His next target is the Asian Athletics Championships, where he will not only aim to place on the podium but also reinforce India’s presence as a force in sprinting.
Conclusion
From a small village in Punjab to the fastest man in India. Breaking the status quo is a series of stories and pure grit. His phenomenal feat at Bengaluru is not merely an individual success; he is a beacon of hope for budding sportspersons nationwide.
As he aims for more, a whole country watches eagerly, hoping the man will carry India’s flight in the world’s sprint. His story shows that perseverance and hard work can overcome the tallest hurdles, and the journey is just starting for him.
