CM Bhajan Lal Hails Gurinderveer Singh's National Sprint Record
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma praised sprinter Gurinderveer Singh for clocking 10.09 seconds in the 100m at the Athletics Federation Cup — making him the first Indian to run the distance in under 10.10 seconds — and called it an inspiration for India's youth.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated sprinter Gurinderveer Singh on 24 May 2026 .
Gurinderveer Singh clocked 10.09 seconds in the 100 metres at the Athletics Federation Cup , winning the gold medal.
He became the first Indian athlete to complete the 100m in under 10.10 seconds .
The performance sets a new national record in Indian sprint athletics.
CM Sharma called the achievement a source of pride for Indian athletics and an inspiration for the country's youth.
The record aligns with India's broader sports push under the Khelo India programme launched in 2017.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Sunday, 24 May 2026 congratulated sprinter Gurinderveer Singh for setting a new national record in the 100 metres at the Athletics Federation Cup, clocking 10.09 seconds to win the gold medal and become the first Indian athlete to complete the distance in under 10.10 seconds.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sharma extended his 'hardik badhai evam shubhkamnayein' [heartfelt congratulations and best wishes] to the sprinter. He described the achievement as a matter of pride for Indian athletics and said it sends a message to the country's youth that 'dedication, discipline, and consistent hard work can achieve every goal.'
Gurinderveer Singh's timing of 10.09 seconds erases the previous national benchmark and places him in a historically rare bracket of sub-10.10 sprinters — a threshold that has long eluded Indian track athletes.
Policy Backdrop
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the national governing body for the sport, organises the Federation Cup as one of the premier domestic competitions where national records can be ratified. The event has served as a proving ground for India's top track and field talent.
The milestone fits within a broader national push under the Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, which has sought to identify and nurture grassroots athletic talent across disciplines including sprinting. Increased domestic competition and structured training support have contributed to a more frequent setting of national records in sprint events in recent years.
Stakeholders and Impact
The record carries significance for the Indian track and field community, which has historically struggled to produce elite short-distance sprinters competitive at the global level. A sub-10.10 performance raises the benchmark for aspiring young athletes and may sharpen focus on sprint development within state and national sports academies.
State leaders publicly recognising individual athletic milestones — as CM Sharma has done here — has become an established pattern in Indian sports culture, lending political visibility to achievements that might otherwise remain within specialist circles and encouraging wider youth participation in athletics.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the next national championships and selection trials for upcoming international competitions, including the World Athletics Championships. Gurinderveer Singh's record-breaking run will likely place him at the centre of India's sprint squad planning, with selectors and coaches watching closely to see whether the performance can be replicated and improved on a global stage.
Point of View
Discipline, and hard work,' Sharma connects a sporting event to a broader youth-motivation narrative that resonates with the BJP's emphasis on aspiration and national pride. The gesture also keeps Rajasthan's political leadership visible in a domain — sports promotion — that increasingly carries electoral and reputational value.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Gurinderveer Singh set at the Athletics Federation Cup?
Gurinderveer Singh set a new Indian national record by completing the 100 metres in 10.09 seconds at the Athletics Federation Cup, becoming the first Indian athlete to run the distance in under 10.10 seconds.
Why did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma post about Gurinderveer Singh?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated Gurinderveer Singh to recognise his historic national record and to encourage India's youth to pursue sports with dedication and discipline.
What is the Athletics Federation Cup?
The Athletics Federation Cup is one of India's premier domestic track and field competitions organised by the Athletics Federation of India, where national records can be officially ratified.
Who is Gurinderveer Singh?
Gurinderveer Singh is an Indian sprinter who, as of May 2026, holds the national record in the 100 metres after clocking 10.09 seconds at the Athletics Federation Cup.
What is the Khelo India programme and how does it relate to this record?
Khelo India is a central government initiative launched in 2017 to promote grassroots sports participation and talent identification. India's improving sprint performances are broadly linked to the increased domestic competition and structured support the programme has encouraged.
