Gurindervir Singh to lead 29-member India squad at Asian Relays in China
Synopsis
India's sprint awakening goes continental. Fresh off back-to-back national records at the Federation Cup, Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur headline a 29-member relay squad bound for Shangyu — with Chandigarh already locked in to host the next edition, the AFI's home-and-away bet is firmly on.
Key Takeaways
Gurindervir Singh will lead a 29-member Indian squad at the second Asian Relays Championships in Shangyu, China , on 20-21 June .
India will field teams in all six relay events: men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m, plus mixed 4x100m and 4x400m.
Gurindervir set a new 100m national record of 10.09 seconds at the Federation Cup in Ranchi , becoming the first Indian under 10.10.
Animesh Kujur had briefly held the record at 10.15 seconds before Gurindervir broke it.
Chandigarh will host the third edition of the Asian Relays Championships.
Sprint sensation Gurindervir Singh, the national record holder in the men's 100m, will spearhead a 29-member Indian contingent at the second Asian Relays Championships in Shangyu, China, on 20 and 21 June. The squad, picked by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), will feature young breakout star Animesh Kujur and compete across all six relay disciplines on offer.
Squad headlined by record-breaking sprinters
Gurindervir, 24, recently became the first Indian to break the 10.10-second barrier in the 100m, clocking 10.09 seconds at the Federation Cup in Ranchi to set a new national mark. He bettered the previous record by 0.06 seconds — a mark set just a day earlier in the semifinals by Animesh Kujur, who himself had clocked 10.15 seconds. Gurindervir had briefly held the record at 10.17 seconds in the same semifinal round before Animesh eclipsed it.
What the AFI president said
“The Indian contingent will compete in all six relay events in China. The competition in China will be a good opportunity for athletes to showcase their potential at the continental level. The international competition will allow sports fans to witness top athletes in action on home soil,” AFI president Bahadur Singh said.
Events India will contest
The Shangyu meet features the men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the women's 4x100m and 4x400m relays, and the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays. India will field a team in each.
Looking ahead to Chandigarh
The Asian Relays cycle holds added significance for India, with Chandigarh recently awarded hosting rights for the third edition of the championships. The decision was confirmed at the Asian Athletics Association Council Meeting in Hong Kong, giving Indian athletes a clear pathway from Shangyu to a home-soil continental showpiece.
The full Indian squad
Men (4x400m and mixed 4x400m relay): Theerthesh P Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Setu Mishra, Nihal Wiliam, S Santhosh, Rince Joseph, Suraj Alagar Raja, Mohit Kumar, Barath Sridhar.
Men (4x100m and mixed 4x100m relay): Animesh Kujur, Gurindervir Singh, Harsh Santosh Raut, Pranav Pramod Gaurav, Ragul Kumar Ganesh Kumar, Senthil Kumar Tamilarasu.
Women (4x400m and mixed 4x400m relay): Rashdeep Kaur, Poovamma MR, Ansa Babu, Vijaykumari GK, Saloni Nagar, Neeru Pathak, Subha V, Gowrinandana.
Women (4x100m and mixed 4x100m relay): Nithya Gandhe, Tamanna, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar.
With the Shangyu meet just over two weeks away, Indian fans will be watching how the freshly minted national record holders translate individual brilliance into relay chemistry on the Asian stage.
Point of View
However, is relay chemistry, where India has historically lost ground in the changeover, not the straight line. If the AFI can convert individual sub-10.10 form into clean baton exchanges at Shangyu, the home-soil edition in Chandigarh becomes a genuine medal prospect rather than a hosting flex.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will lead India at the 2026 Asian Relays Championships?
Gurindervir Singh, the national record holder in the men's 100m, will lead the 29-member Indian contingent at the second Asian Relays Championships in Shangyu, China. The team has been selected by the Athletics Federation of India.
When and where will the Asian Relays Championships be held?
The second Asian Relays Championships will be held in Shangyu, China, on 20 and 21 June. India will compete in all six relay events on the programme.
What is Gurindervir Singh's 100m national record?
Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.09 seconds at the Federation Cup in Ranchi to become the first Indian to break the 10.10-second barrier in the 100m. He bettered the previous mark — set by Animesh Kujur at 10.15 seconds — by 0.06 seconds.
Which events will India contest in Shangyu?
India will field teams in the men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the women's 4x100m and 4x400m relays, and the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays. That covers all six relay disciplines on offer.
Where will the next edition of the Asian Relays be held?
The third edition of the Asian Relays Championships will be hosted in Chandigarh, India. The hosting rights were confirmed at the Asian Athletics Association Council Meeting in Hong Kong.
