Pranav Gurav Blazes to India’s Third-Fastest Time of the Season
The battle for the title of India’s fastest man intensified at the Indian Athletics Series-6 in Chennai, as Pranav Pramod Gurav delivered a career-defining performance in the 100m sprint. Representing Reliance, Gurav clocked a blistering 10.32s, not only clinching the gold but also registering the third-fastest time by an Indian this season.
Gurav’s victory is a testament to his rapid development within the high-performance ecosystem. This 10.32s mark is just shy of his personal best of 10.27s set last year, proving that the 24-year-old is finding his peak rhythm just as the international calendar begins to heat up.
Securing the silver medal was Odisha’s Lalu Prasad Bhoi, who made a statement in his first outdoor individual race of the year. Bhoi clocked 10.42s, a solid season opener that mirrors his consistency from 2024, where he famously clocked a 10.34s. Known for his explosive start, Bhoi’s transition from indoor training to the Chennai heat suggests he will be a major threat at the upcoming National Inter-State Championships.
The podium was completed by the reigning U20 Federation Cup champion, Abhay Singh. Fresh off a historic “sprint double” at the National Junior Championships in Tumkur—where he shattered the national junior 200m record with a time of 20.82s—Abhay proved he can hold his own against the senior elite. He finished third in 10.47s, further cementing his status as India’s most exciting sprint prospect.
With three sprinters dipping well below the 10.50s mark, the 100m final in Chennai served as a reminder of the rising depth in Indian sprinting. As Gurav leads the pack with a season-best, the pressure is now on the rest of the field to respond before the Asian circuit kicks into high gear. For Reliance and the coaching staff, seeing both Gurav and the young Abhay on the podium is a clear win for their developmental strategy.