New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised India’s emerging sprint stars Gurinder Veer Singh and Animesh Kujur for rewriting the national record books in the men’s 100m event, describing their achievements as an inspiration for young athletes across the country.
During the 134th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Modi highlighted the recent National Senior Athletics Federation Competition held in Ranchi, where nearly 800 athletes participated and four national records were broken in different events.
The Prime Minister congratulated athletes Gurinder Veer Singh, Vishal TK, Tejaswin Shankar, Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar for their record-breaking performances, while singling out the men’s 100m race, where the national record was broken three times within two days.
Interacting with Gurinder Veer and Animesh during the programme, Modi praised the duo’s determination and healthy rivalry, saying their achievements had challenged the long-held belief that Indians could not excel in elite sprinting events.
Animesh, who hails from Chhattisgarh and currently represents Odisha, recounted his journey from playing football during the Covid-19 pandemic to becoming a national record holder and international medal winner. He said family support and perseverance helped him transition into athletics despite initial doubts from others.
Gurinder Veer, a Petty Officer in the Indian Navy, spoke about drawing inspiration from his father and grandfather, both sportspersons. He recalled being told that Indians were not naturally suited for the 100m sprint but said he remained committed to proving otherwise.
The sprinter recently clocked 10.09 seconds in the 100m event, becoming the first Indian athlete to run below the 10.1-second barrier.
Both athletes credited their families, coaches and mutual support for their success. They told the Prime Minister that while they remain close friends off the track, they become fierce competitors during races, pushing each other to achieve better performances.
Animesh revealed that the pair had often discussed taking Indian sprinting to new heights and viewed their record-breaking performances as a way to inspire future generations of athletes.
Commending their sportsmanship, Modi said their willingness to compete, challenge and support one another reflected the true spirit of sports. He expressed confidence that the duo would continue to bring glory to the country in international competitions.
The athletes also informed the Prime Minister that they had been selected for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and were preparing to deliver even stronger performances on the global stage.
