There has always been a myth surrounding Indian sports that Indian athletes were not made for short sprints. From genetic factors to poor-quality running surfaces, blame could be placed on anything and everything. The advice given to young runners has always been to confine themselves to long-distance races.
But as they say, rules are meant to be broken.
That’s where Gurindervir Singh comes in, being the rule breaker. He’s an amazing runner from Punjab who is a complete game-changer. He ran so fast that he shocked everyone and proved his disbelievers wrong.
If you love reading stories about hard work, focus, and crazy speed, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we will look at the struggles and incredible success of the guy who has become the fastest runner in India officially.
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Who Is Gurindervir Singh? Know His Age, Net Worth, Early Life & Background
To understand how Gurindervir Singh got so fast, you have to look at where it all started.
Gurindervir was born on December 24, 2000, but long before he ever set foot on a professional track, he was just a regular kid running around the open fields of his hometown. He grew up in a quiet, cosy little village called Patial, near Jalandhar in Punjab.
Gurindervir Singh Net Worth
While his exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, Gurindervir is a professional athlete representing the Reliance Foundation and serves as a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy. His income is supported by his military service, athletic career, and sporting rewards
Gurindervir Singh Height
He stands at around 1.68 meters tall, which is about 5 feet 6 inches.
Gurindervir Singh Early Life & Background
Long before he ever stepped onto a professional running track, Gurindervir was just a regular kid running around the open fields of his hometown. He grew up in a quiet, cosy little village called Patial, which is near Jalandhar in Punjab.
Sports were always a big part of his family. His grandfather loved playing Kabaddi and served in the Indian Army. His biggest hero, though, was his dad, Kamaljit Singh. His dad is a retired Punjab Police officer who used to be an incredible national-level volleyball player. Growing up, Gurindervir loved watching his dad play, and that is what inspired him to chase his own sports dreams.
When Gurindervir was a kid, his favourite chore during Diwali cleaning was polishing his dad’s old medals and trophies. Staring at those awards and looking at old photos of his dad playing volleyball made him want to achieve big things, too. When he turned 12, his dad noticed how fast he was and encouraged him to start running.
The early days were definitely not easy for him. Gurindervir had to travel more than 13 kilometres every single day just to get to school, which left him completely exhausted. To make life a bit easier for him, his father saved up and spent ₹5,000 to buy him a used scooter on an instalment plan.
Later on, he moved to a school in Jalandhar. That is where a local coach named Sarabjit Singh Happy started training him. The coach treated him just like family and stepped up to support him whenever money was tight.
How Gurindervir Singh Broke the Record
If you look back at the history of the 100-meter race in India, it has become incredibly exciting lately. And Gurindervir Singh is right at the centre of it.
In early 2025, Gurindervir shocked everyone by running the 100-meter dash in 10.20 seconds at a race in Bengaluru, breaking the previous Indian record of 10.23 seconds. Shortly after, a young rival named Animesh Kujur ran even faster, setting a new record of 10.18 seconds.
Did Gurindervir give up after hearing this news? Not at all.
On May 23, 2026, at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, Gurindervir gave the performance of his life. He flew across the finish line at an unbelievable 10.09 seconds, winning his record back!
Gurindervir Singh record to 10.09 Seconds:
- May 2026: 10.09 seconds (The fastest time ever by an Indian!)
- March 2025: 10.20 seconds (Broke the Indian record)
- 2023–2024: 10.27 seconds (His starting baseline)
This is a massive deal because no Indian runner had ever run a 100-meter race under 10.10 seconds before. By running this fast, Gurindervir easily qualified for both the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Fighting Stomach Ulcers and Financial Problems
Becoming the fastest man in India wasn’t all about fancy sports drinks and big sponsor deals. Behind all those gold medals, there were some really tough physical and financial struggles.
At one point, Gurindervir’s career was almost cut short by serious health issues. But things became more difficult for him due to the stomach ulcers. He became very weak and thin due to his sickness. It got to the point where even some senior athletes were telling him to stop dreaming of becoming an excellent sprinter and just get any office job, because, according to them, India could not afford to give a star athlete anything.
But Gurindervir Singh refused to give up.
He eventually joined the Reliance Foundation athletic program and started training under a great coach named James Hillier. With a team of sports psychologists, physios, and a strict diet plan, he completely rebuilt his body. Plus, to make sure he had a steady income while representing his country, he took a job as a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy.
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The Goal: Running Under 10 Seconds
After Gurindervir Singh’s record, people naturally started comparing him with legends like Usain Bolt and Milkha Singh or calling him the “Flying Sikh 2.0.” But even with all the hype, he stays completely humble and focused.
Right after his amazing 10.9-second run, he told reporters, “Main toh yeh bhi nahi bolta ki track slow hai, jab banda fast hota hai toh saare tracks fast hain” (“I never blame a track for being slow. When you are fast, every track is fast.”)
His biggest goal now? He wants to run the 100-meter dash under 10 seconds on the world stage. Looking at how fast he keeps getting, he is well on his way to making that dream come true.
