Gurindervir Singh, India’s Fastest Sprinter, Eyes Under-10 Second Mark

Gurindervir Singh became the fastest man in India’s 100m event, last week, by clocking 10.20 at the Indian Grand Prix 1 in Bengaluru.

“I’ve been training for nearly 10-12 years to break the national record, but my primary target is to run under 10 seconds,” he told the Bridge.

His running style and technique greatly improved, bringing his timing down from the 10.27 he clocked in 2021.

But the path to glory was not easy. During the Covid-19 phase, he stayed at the Punjab Institute of Sports in Jalandhar where the conditions were not suitable for an athlete.

“In Patiala, we weren’t allowed to use the sports facilities, so we stayed in a building under renovation. One day, the transformer caught fire, leaving us without electricity,” he said.

 “At one point, I lost 12 kg in just 8 to 10 days. My father even suggested that I come back home and consider giving up sprinting,” he further added.

However, his coach and support staff, became the guiding light he needed in such phase.

“It was frustrating at times, but I knew I had to trust the process,” he said.

His journey to become country’s elite sprinter improved when he joined the Reliance Foundation in Mumbai.

“I returned after the Interstate Championships last July, but training was inconsistent due to the rainy season and I returned to Punjab. When I came back to Mumbai a few months later, the difference in training was immense.”

“I was looking for an environment where people would push me. Amlan Borgohain and Manikanta, my training partners, are strong athletes. Amlan’s endurance and weight training are excellent, and as a 200m national record holder, he’s always motivated to defend his title. When they push themselves, I have no choice but to push harder,” he added.

He took time to adjust to the new training system set by James Hillier.

“In Punjab, my entire workout would be over by the time the others in Mumbai finished their warm-up. The intensity was completely different, but it was exactly what I needed. Back in the national camps, we followed outdated Russian training plans which my coach Happy Singh knew off, but here, our coach experiments with new techniques that keep us in top condition,” he said.