Record-breaking spree in Indian athletics
Indian track and field has witnessed a remarkable surge in national records this year, with 26 marks being bettered across various disciplines. The most notable was Gurindervir Singh's 100m finish at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where he clocked 10.09 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 10.15s set by Animesh Kujur just a day earlier in the heats. Gurindervir's celebration, tearing off his bib number before the finish line, and his statement "Indian gene tagde hai" went viral on social media.
Ancy Sojan breaks Anju Bobby George's long-standing record
At the National inter-state senior athletics championships in Bhubaneswar, Ancy Sojan from Thrissur, Kerala, cleared 6.88m in women's long jump, breaking Anju Bobby George's 22-year-old national record of 6.83m set at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Sojan emphasized the need for consistency, stating that she and her team should focus on zoning in around the 6.70m mark.
Sarvesh Kushare's high jump milestone
At the same meet, Sarvesh Kushare jumped 2.31m in high jump, surpassing Tejaswin Shankar's record of 2.29m. He became the first Indian to cross the 2.30m mark, a significant milestone for Indian athletics.
Women's 4x100m relay success
The women's 4x100m relay team of Srabani Nanda, Sneha Shanuvalli, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna clocked a season's best of 43.85 seconds to win gold at the Asian Relays Championships in China, beating the host nation. However, despite this achievement, the quartet is ranked only 62nd in the world according to the World Athletics Top Lists, highlighting the gap to global standards.
Global rankings reveal harsh reality
While Indian athletes have set personal bests, world rankings show they are still far behind the top competitors. Gurindervir Singh's 10.09s ranks him 87th globally, while Jamaica's Oblique Seville leads with 9.82s. Animesh Kujur's 200m timing of 20.32s places him 73rd, compared to Cayman Islands' Jayden Reid's 19.63s. Vishal TK's national record of 44.98s in 400m ranks 66th, while Nigeria's Samuel Ogazi leads with 43.38s. Gulveer Singh, national record holder in 5000m (12:59.77) and 10000m (27:00.22), ranks 21st and 11th respectively. Tejas Shirse's 13.27s in 110m hurdles puts him 31st, with USA's Ja'Kobe Tharp leading at 12.75s. Ancy Sojan's 6.88m ranks her 7th in long jump, with USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall leading at 7.21m. Sarvesh Kushare's 2.31m ties him for third with Great Britain's Kimani Jack. Rohit Yadav's javelin throw of 87.05m ranks him second, behind Sri Lanka's Romesh Pathirage's 92.62m.
Coaches and officials weigh in
Saharsh Shah, sprints coach at the Inspire Institute of Sport, noted that hard work is essential. "Getting close to 11 seconds is relatively easy, but to get closer to the 10-second mark, it's about mindset, recovery, high-performance programs, and biomechanical testing," he said, using the analogy of squeezing a toothpaste tube: easier at first, harder as it nears the end. He added that these results create momentum, forcing everyone to work harder.
Adille Sumariwalla, former AFI president and chairman of the selection committee, expressed cautious optimism. "The decentralized programme is clearly working. Sarvesh, Gulveer, Vishal TK have been performing consistently. Not for a second am I saying we are suddenly world class, but 20-odd records broken is a good indicator. When I saw 15 runners go under the Asian Games qualifying standard in 800m, I was shaken. This is real progress," he said.
Doping concerns cast shadow
Despite the positive developments, Indian athletics leads the Athletics Integrity Unit's global doping list, with India topping the chart, followed by Kenya with 148 offenders and Russia with over 60. KM Deeksha, the reigning 1500m national record holder, faces a four-year suspension after testing positive for anabolic steroids. The AIU has placed India on the list of extremely risky countries for doping, raising questions about India's push to become a global sports superpower.
