Gurindervir Singh Shatters National Record in 4x100m Relay at Indian Open

Gurindervir Singh Leads Record-Breaking Relay Team

Gurindervir Singh, who previously earned the title of the fastest Indian during the Indian Grand Prix in March, captured attention once again on Wednesday. This time, he was part of the Reliance Foundation team that set a new national record in the 4x100m relay, clocking an impressive 38.69 seconds at the 2nd Indian Open Relay Competition. The relay team, which included Gurindervir, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain, surpassed the previous national record of 38.89 seconds established during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“We were not anticipating a finish under 38.89 seconds, but seeing the time on the clock is fantastic. We only began our training a few months ago, and this was our debut race,” Gurindervir, a resident of Patial village in Jalandhar, remarked while taking photos with his young admirers.

Reflecting on his earlier achievement of completing the 100m in 10.20 seconds in Bengaluru, Gurindervir shared insights on how scientific training has transformed his performance on the track.

“Since joining the Reliance Foundation nearly six months ago, I have experienced significant improvements. I learned about the critical role of scientific training in my overall development. Small details, such as my shoulder movements near the finish line or my hip positioning during acceleration, are crucial,” he explained.

“Technical training is essential, and over the years, I have received invaluable advice from experts. With Martin Owens and James Hiller guiding us, I found the right platform at the perfect time,” he added.

Punjab Triumphs in U20 4x100m Mixed Relay

In the U20 4x100m mixed relay, the Punjab team, consisting of Jaslin Saini, Lovejot Kaur, Varun Sharma, and J Dhillon, secured the gold medal by defeating Chandigarh's team of Punya Handa, Anshika Sharma, Puneet, and Gurbachan Singh. Tamil Nadu showcased their strength by entering teams in all events, with their men's 4x100m team finishing in second place. In the mixed relay, Tamil Nadu took the top spot, while Punjab finished third. In the U20 men's and mixed 4x400m relay events, Tamil Nadu again claimed victory, with Punjab earning a bronze in the men's category.

Relay Event Faces Technical Glitch

While the men's 4x100m relay event set a new standard, an awkward moment occurred when a volunteer was called to stabilize a malfunctioning starting block. Before the race, the volunteer had to use his foot to prevent the block from slipping.

Photo: Deepankar Sharda