Indian sprinting’s extraordinary week at the Federation Cup 2026 produced another historic chapter as Gurindervir Singh once again lowered the men’s 100m national record, storming to a sensational 10.09s in the final to confirm himself as the fastest man India has ever produced.
Incredibly, it was the second straight day on which Gurindervir rewrote the national record.
Just 24 hours earlier, the Punjab sprinter had clocked 10.17s in the semifinals to briefly take the national mark from Animesh Kujur. Minutes later, Kujur had responded immediately with a 10.15s run of his own, reclaiming the record and setting up one of the most anticipated sprint finals Indian athletics had seen in years.
The final delivered.
Under the lights in Ranchi, the rivalry between India’s two fastest men reached another level. Gurindervir exploded out of the blocks and held his form brilliantly through the finish, stopping the clock at a stunning 10.09s to reclaim the national record yet again.
The timing also comfortably secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games and pushed Indian sprinting into territory once considered unimaginable.
Animesh Kujur finished second in 10.20s, while Pranav Gurav took third in 10.29s in what became one of the fastest domestic 100m races in Indian history.
But the evening belonged to Gurindervir.
The celebrations after the finish reflected both relief and history. Having lost the national record almost instantly after setting it in the semifinals, Gurindervir returned 24 hours later to produce an even bigger statement.
The Federation Cup in Ranchi may now be remembered as the meet where Indian sprinting truly entered a new era.
For years, Indian athletics searched for men capable of consistently threatening the 10.20 barrier. Now, within the span of two days, the national record has fallen repeatedly — ending at 10.09s.
And perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: the rivalry between Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur may only just be beginning.