'India can compete at the highest level': Anand Mahindra hails new 'Flying Sikh' Gurindervir Singh as his motivation

For decades, India’s sprinting ambitions rarely entered conversations dominated by Olympic legends and world record holders. But a blistering run by rising sprinter Gurindervir Singh has now sparked fresh belief that the country could finally be inching closer to elite global standards. Industrialist Anand Mahindra joined the growing chorus of excitement, calling Gurindervir’s recent performances a sign that India may genuinely have what it takes to compete with the fastest runners in the world.

Taking to X, Anand Mahindra reflected on India’s sprinting progress and explained why the recent performances of Gurindervir Singh and fellow athlete Animesh Kujur left him optimistic about the future of Indian athletics.

Beginning his post with a nostalgic reflection, Mahindra wrote that the idea of an all-new “Flying Sikh” naturally captured headlines over the weekend, referencing the legendary Milkha Singh, who earned the iconic nickname for his extraordinary speed on the track. Mahindra noted that few athletic events command as much worldwide fascination as the 100 metres sprint, describing it as “the search for the world’s fastest human being.”


Recalling his younger years, he shared how, as schoolchildren, his generation watched Jim Hines create history by becoming the first person to officially break the 10-second barrier at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. “At the time,” Mahindra wrote, it was difficult to imagine India “ever entering that conversation,” underlining how distant global sprinting excellence once seemed for Indian athletes.


That, according to him, is exactly why the performances of Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur feel so important today. Mahindra said the duo’s progress gives Indians reason to believe “we do have what it takes” to compete at the highest levels of the sport. He then highlighted how rapidly India’s sprinting standards have improved in a short span of time. Pointing to national timing improvements, Mahindra noted that India’s national record stood at 10.26 as recently as 2023 and has now improved dramatically to 10.09.

The businessman went on to compare Gurindervir Singh’s timing against global sprinting benchmarks after researching international standards himself. According to Mahindra, Olympic finalists in the men’s 100 metres are generally clocking times in the 9.8 to 9.9-second range, while semifinalists at the World Championships frequently run in the 10.0 to 10.1 bracket.

He further observed that medal contention at Asian and Commonwealth-level competitions can often happen around the 10.0 to 10.15 range, depending on the strength of the field. Based on those comparisons, Mahindra concluded that Gurindervir Singh is currently operating “at the edge of genuine international competitiveness,” suggesting the Indian sprinter may already be closer to elite standards than many imagine.

For additional context, Mahindra also referenced Chinese sprint star Su Bingtian, reminding readers that the athlete clocked a remarkable 9.83 seconds during the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Even with the growing optimism, Mahindra acknowledged that a major challenge still lies ahead. He described the sub-10-second mark as the “final frontier” and one of sport’s rarest accomplishments, stressing that breaking it remains an enormous task.

Still, the businessman could not hide his excitement over Gurindervir’s recent display on the track. Mahindra described watching the sprinter “explode off the blocks and streak to the tape” as exhilarating, adding that he hoped to begin his week carrying the same energy and momentum. Closing his post on an upbeat note, Mahindra turned the moment into a dose of Monday motivation, using India’s sprinting rise as a symbol of ambition, possibility, and belief.

About Gurindervir Singh

At just 25, Gurindervir Singh created history in Ranchi by becoming the first Indian sprinter to clock under 10.10 seconds in the men’s 100 metres. The Punjab athlete registered a stunning 10.09-second finish, setting a new national record and comfortably surpassing the Athletics Federation of India qualifying mark of 10.16 seconds for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Following his sensational performance, Gurindervir has reportedly earned a new nickname among fans. His father, Kamaljit, revealed that people have started calling the young sprinter “Toofan Singh” after his explosive run.