Happy news on the phone, Gurindervir Singh is targeting less than 10 overs

Gurindervir Singh (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: A carefully preserved Rs 500 note, tucked away in the back cover of his mobile phone, has been through every step of sprinter Gurindervir Singh’s remarkable journey. The folded banknote, which the national record holder calls his “lucky talisman”, is a reminder of his fighting days – he would struggle to fund his training and once didn’t have enough money to pay tolls when he traveled to Punjab for practice.“Someone helped me when I needed it the most. That message has stayed with me ever since,” Gurindervir said, declining to reveal the full story. “The whole story is for my biopic.Today, the 25-year-old Indian Navy sprinter has a far bigger story to tell. At the Federation Cup in Ranchi late last month, Gurindervir became the first Indian to break the 10.10 seconds mark in the men’s 100m, clocking a national record of 10.09 seconds. He believes that success is just a milestone.“My goal is not to stop at 10:09. If I am consistent, train well, recover properly and follow the process, I believe a sub-10 run is possible in future competitions,” Gurindervir said confidently.Under the guidance of trainer James Hillier at the Reliance Foundation, Gurindervir changed both his training and his mindset. Every aspect of his training – strength, speed, mobility, recovery, diet and race execution – is meticulously planned. “Before, I had to manage everything by myself. Now I have the support of trainers, physiotherapists and nutritionists. We planned every phase of training, from strength to speed, and the results came,” he said.With European training in Spala, Poland starting in July and major targets including the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, Gurindervir’s next goal is clear. “I have already broken the 10.10 mark. Now I am chasing an even bigger one – to become the first Indian to run under 10s,” he said.One important reason for Gurindervir’s breakthrough was a deeper understanding of the structure of his race. “My start has always been good, but I used to have problems maintaining my speed in the last 30 meters. This year we have worked hard to improve my acceleration, racing angles, exiting the block and my footwork. My racing formula is simple – accelerate the first 30 meters, reach top speed for about 60 to 65 meters and then maintain it until the finish,” he said.His favorite exercises at the gym are squats and pull-ups. He lifts 220kg in the half squat and 145kg in the hang clean – numbers that underline the power that drives India’s fastest sprinter. “During training, I maintain a body fat percentage of around 6-7% cents before dropping it to 5-6% during races,” he added.However, the road to success was anything but smooth. Between 2021 and 2023, Gurindervir battled severe intestinal health problems caused by poor diet and contaminated water during his stay at a sports hostel in Punjab. Limited finances meant he often survived on meatless chicken gravy after training.“We didn’t always get proper food. Sometimes we only had gravy to eat. Sometimes even that wasn’t available. The drinking water was bad and all these factors ended up damaging my health,” he said.The condition became so severe that he lost almost 12 kg in just over a week, struggling to absorb nutrients. His sprinting career appeared to be in jeopardy. Medical treatment, a structured nutrition plan and scientific support under Hillier helped him rebuild his body and come back stronger.Equally important was his mental development. Gurindervir admitted that a year ago, the sudden fame and media attention often overwhelmed him. “If you meet last year’s Gurindervir, he would have been stressed. I always thought about interviews and expectations. My coach helped me understand how to handle attention and focus on performance. Now I don’t put unnecessary pressure. I am a stress-free person,” he said.His rivalry with fellow sprinter Animesh Kujur added a new dimension to Indian sprinting. The pair exchanged national records three times in 24 hours before Gurindervir came out on top with his time of 10.09 seconds.“Off the track, we’re friends and often roommates. On the track, we’re rivals. It’s a healthy competition because we push each other to get better.”Despite growing recognition, Gurindervir’s sacrifices continue. He did not return home for over a year, determined to achieve bigger goals before the celebration. “My family keeps asking me to come home. I tell them I’m not coming back empty-handed. I want to give back something special.”