From uncertain future to winning gold, Gurindervir Singh comes a full circle
Gurindervir Singh had a point to prove. He did it in style to emerge as the fastest man on Indian tracks with a 10.32s sprint to win the 100m on day two of the 63rd Inter-State athletics championships here on Friday, then let out a loud roar, egged on by a crowd of vocal supporters.
The other two fastest men in the country at the moment — Animesh Kujur and Amlan Borgohain — duly completed the topthree in the event.
“There were quite a few who said I was nished in the last two years. The celebration was for those doubters,” Gurindervir said after the race.
“I have been training on my own for a while now in Jalandhar. I have my coach Sarabjit Singh Happy but no training partners.
“A competition like this is good because it pushes you to do better, but getting such competitors in training is even more important. That is what actually helps get better and that is what I need now,” Gurindervir said.
the 100m.
Gurindervir emerged the fastest man on Indian tracks with a 10.32s sprint to win
In the 400m, Mohd. Anas Yahiya and Mohd. Ajmal had to be separated through photo nish after both clocked 45.93 seconds, Anas edging ahead 45.926 to Ajmal’s 45.939. Haryana’s Mohit Kumar continued his impressive performance, clocking a personal best of 46.15s to nish third.
Among the women, S.S. Sneha won the 100m while Kiran Pahal ran another scorching race, equalling
her Thursday’s time of 50.92s to win by a comfortable margin.
Separate trial
The AFI also held a separate trial of national campers to possibly select athletes for the women’s 4x400m relay team with an eye on the Paris Olympics late on Friday night, consisting of those who had failed to advance in competition. The ve quartermilers — R. Vithya Ramraj,
who was disqualied for a foul start, Prachi, M.R. Poovamma, Rupal and Aishwarya Mishra — were given a chance to prove their timings.
While Vithya nished on top in 53.16 seconds, Prachi took the second spot in 53.79. The remaining three were unable to go below 54s.
The results (only finals):
Men: 100m: 1. Gurindervir Singh (Pun, 10.32s), 2. Animesh Kujur (Odi, 10.46s), 3. Amlan Borgohain (Asm, 10.49s); 400m: 1. Mohd. Anas Yahiya (45.93s), 2. Mohd. Ajmal (45.93s), 3. Mohit Kumar (Har, 46.15); 1500m: 1. Parvej Khan (Har, 3:42.95), 2. Yoonus Shah (UP, 3:43.88), 3. Mehedi Hassan (Asm, 3:44.40); 20km walk: Sanjay Kumar (Raj, 1:26:13.00), Amit (Har, 1:26:20.00), Vikash Singh (Del, 1:27:21.00). 4x100m: 1. Odisha (40.02s), 2. Punjab (40.50s), 3. Tamil Nadu (40.88s); 4x400m: 1. Haryana (3:08.00), 2. TN (3:08.62), 3.
Punjab (3:09.07); discus: 1. Nirbhay Singh (Har, 55.44m), 2. Gagandeep Singh (Pun, 53.33m),
3. Oinam Singh (Man, 52.09m). Women: 100m: 1. Sneha (Kar, 11.62s), 2. Giridharani Ravikumar (TN, 11.77s), 3. Nithya Gandhe (Tel, 11.79s); 400m: 1. Kiran Pahal (Har, 50.92s), 2. Deepanshi (Har, 52.01s), 3. Jyotika Sri Dandi (AP, 52.11s); 1500m: 1. Lili Das (WB, 4:13.87), 2. Chanda (Del, 4:14.85),
3. K.M. Deeksha (MP, 4:18.38). Pole vault: 1. Rosy Paulraj (TN, 4m), 2. Pavithra Venkatesh (TN, 4m), 3. Mariya Jaison (Ker, 3.90m); shot put: 1. Abha Khatua (Mah, 17.63m), 2. Kachnar Chaudhary (Raj, 16.76m), 3. Srishti Vig (Del, 15.11m); 4x100m: 1. Karnataka (45.38s), 2. TN (45.40s), 3. Odisha (46.65s).
4x400m: 1. Andhra Pradesh (3:41.84), 2. TN (3:42.55), 3.
Punjab (3:44.23); triple jump: 1. Sheena (Ker, 13.44m), 2. Pavithra (Kar, 13.20m), 3. Anusha Mallala (AP, 13.09m); javelin: 1. Annu Rani (UP, 57.70m), 2. Ramyashree Jain (Kar, 53.14m), 3. Rashmi (AP, 52.39m).