India ke sprint star Gurindervir Singh ne Monday ko Ranchi mein Federation Cup ke men’s 100m final mein 10.09 seconds ka shaanदार time lekar ek itihasik pal likh diya. 24 saal ke is Punjab ke athlete ne na sirf pehle ke record 10.15 seconds (jo Animesh Kujur ne sirf kuch ghanton pehle hi set kiya tha) ko tod diya, balki wo India ke pehle aise athlete ban gaye jinhone is event mein 10.10 seconds se niche ka time liya. Unki ye performance Indian athletics mein chhati macha gayi aur puri desh mein khushiyon ka maahol hai.
Yeh drama sirf 24 ghanton mein hi ho gaya. Tournament ke pehle din hi Gurindervir ne 10.24 seconds ka time lekar national record tod diya tha. Lekin Jharkhand ke Animesh Kujur ne 10.15 seconds ka time lekar record wapas apna liya. Gurindervir par bahar se expectations aur media ka pressure badh raha tha. Unke coach, Australian James Hillier, ne ek decisive step liya. Unhone athlete ko poori tarah se disconnect karne ka order diya—no smartphone, no social media, aur sirf recovery par focus karne ko kaha. Lekin sirf ek din mein hi unka ye record-breaking run viral ho gaya, aur puri desh ke sports reels aur headlines mein chhaya raha.
*The Indian Express* ke ek exclusive interview mein Gurindervir ne apne emotional aur mental challenges ke baare mein baat ki jo unke career ko last saal almost khatam kar dete. Unhone reveal kiya ki unki appearance ko lekar kiye gaye comments ne unhein kaafi pareshan kiya tha. “Kisi ne meri appearance ko lekar kuch kaha, directly mere face par. Main disturbed ho gaya. Main mirror mein dekhna hi band kar diya. Main neech dikhne laga,” unhone share kiya. Is criticism ne unki confidence ko kaafi chot pahunchayi, aur unhone admit kiya, “Main bahut confidence kho chuka tha. Main nahi bata sakta ki wo words kya the, lekin wo kaafi hurtful the.” Yeh ek turning point tha jab coach Hillier ne tough love dikhayi. “Unhone kaha ki mere liye khada hoga koi nahi. Main hi starting line par khada hunga. Koi motivate karne nahi aayega. Main hi khud motivate karunga,” Gurindervir ne yaad kiya. Hillier ke guidance mein unhone seekha ki noise ko filter karo, negativity ko ignore karo, aur apni mental strength ko rebuild karo.
Apne journey ke baare mein baat karte hue, jo unhein “bulky” athlete se leaner aur faster sprinter banaya, Gurindervir ne apne sacrifices ko acknowledge kiya. “Maine sab kuch chod diya hai. Main bahut time se kuch khaya hi nahi,” unhone kaha, apne strict diet aur training regimen ki taraf point karte hue. Jab unka family pinni aur Ras Malai jaise traditional sweets enjoy karta hai, wo unhein avoid karte hain taaki wo peak condition mein rahein. “Jab main unhein dekhta hoon, mujhe lagta hai ki khana chahiye lekin main nahi kha sakta kyunki mera sapna hai world-class sprinter banne ka,” unhone add kiya.
Apne record ki significance ke baare mein baat karte hue, Gurindervir ne iske next generation par possible impact par zor diya. “Isse next generation par impact pad sakta hai lekin un par nahi jo drugs mein involved hain,” unhone kaha, Punjab ke substance abuse ke struggle ko highlight karte hue. Unka maanana hai ki unki achievement youth ko athletics ki taraf inspire kar sakti hai. “Yeh race next generation ko bata sakti hai ki kaunsa rasta choose karna hai,” unhone kaha.
Gurindervir Punjab se hone par bhi reflect kiya, ek state jo traditionally throwers aur quarter-milers ke liye jani jati hai. “Pehle yahan throwers the. 400m runners the. Ab maine 100m aur 200m choose kiya hai, aur main sochta hoon ki log mujhe dekhenge aur kahenge ki agar wo kar sakta hai, toh main bhi kar sakta hoon,” unhone kaha, apne success se aur athletes ko sprinting lene ki umeed jataate hue.
Aage dekhne par, Gurindervir grounded reh rahe hain. “Kuch nahi. Bas wapas jaana, khana, exercise karna, train karna, aur repeat,” unhone kaha, ye signal karte hue ki unka focus ab sustained improvement aur future competitions par hai, jaise Asian Championships aur World Championships. Unke coach ka philosophy—self-motivation, discipline, aur resilience—ne clear tarah se resonate kiya hai, aur India ke fastest man ko sprinting excellence ke naye era mein le jaaya hai.
