Gurvindervir Singh Shatters National Record in Thrilling 60m Final at National Indoor Championships
The inaugural National Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar reached a dramatic climax on Wednesday, with Punjab's international sprinter Gurvindervir Singh delivering a stunning performance to claim the marquee men's 60m title. The 26-year-old athlete clocked a blistering 6.60 seconds at the Indoor Stadium, not only securing gold but also breaking the previous national record of 6.67 seconds set by VK Elakkiadasan in 2022.
Resilience Triumphs Amidst False Start Chaos
In a final marred by three false starts, Gurvindervir Singh displayed remarkable composure to emerge victorious. Representing Reliance, he expressed optimism about his season ahead, stating, "It was a good start to the 2026 season. I hope to sustain my efforts in outdoor races." This victory marks his first race of the season, setting a high benchmark for future competitions.
However, the event brought heartbreak for hosts Odisha, as national outdoor champion and hot favourite Animesh Kujur was disqualified due to a false start. He joined teammates Dondapti Mrutyam Jayaram and Karnataka's Nehal Sagar, who also faced disqualification, highlighting the intense pressure and strict enforcement of rules at this historic championship.
Women's 60m Dash Dominated by Harita Bhandra
In the women's 60m dash, Maharashtra's 22-year-old Harita Bhandra emerged as the clear winner, clocking a time of 7.32 seconds. Her victory underscored the competitive spirit across genders at the event, which featured athletes from various states and organizations showcasing their speed and agility.
Comprehensive Results from Day 2 of the Championships
The two-day competition saw numerous standout performances across multiple disciplines. Here is a detailed breakdown of the key results:
- Men's 60m: Gurvindervir Singh (Reliance) 6.60s, Lalu Prasad Bhoi (Odisha) 6.65s, Nuzrat (Haryana) 6.71s
- Men's U20 60m: Kshitij Sunil (Maharashtra) 6.78s, Rushiraj Singh (Gujarat) 6.87s, Abhay Singh (Reliance) 6.88s
- Men's 400m: Mohammed Sinan (Reliance) 48.27s, Muhammed Badusha (BSF) 49.83s, Aryan Ekka (Odisha) 49.86s
- Men's U20 400m: Umesh Sahani (Uttar Pradesh) 49.14s, Bapi Hansda (Odisha) 49.27s, Pradeep Mane (Maharashtra) 51.66s
- Men's 1500m: Vinod Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 3:46.13s, Jagdish (Air Force) 3:50.11s, Sunil Yadav (Rajasthan) 3:50.56s
- Men's U20 3000m: Dolamani Chirgun (Odisha) 8:39.13s, Bitto Joseph (Kerala) 8:40.32s, Ajay (Uttar Pradesh) 8:41.02s
- Men's Triple Jump: Vimal Mukesh (Navy) 15.41m, Robinson S (Tamil Nadu) 14.67m, Naresh Rohidas (Odisha) 13.92m
- Men's Pole Vault: Reegan G (Tamil Nadu) 5.30m, Rambeer Singh (Army) 4.85m, Bineesh Jacob (Railway) 4.55m
- Men's High Jump: Swadhin Kumar Majhi (Odisha) 2.18m, Sarvesh Anil Kushare (Maharashtra) 2.15m, Dhairyshil D (Maharashtra) 2.15m
- Men's U20 High Jump: Basant (Rajasthan) 2.16m, Sagar Roy (West Bengal) 2.05m, Ankit Kumar (Rajasthan) 1.90m
- Women's 60m: Harita Bhandra (Maharashtra) 7.32s, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 7.46s, Trisha Nair (Maharashtra) 7.62s
- Women's U20 60m: Kajal Hirabhai Vaja (Gujarat) 7.50s, Mansi Rajak (Madhya Pradesh) 7.55s, Heeral Johri (Madhya Pradesh) 7.75s
- Women's 400m: Kumari Saloni Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) 55.73s, Sukhi Baskey (Odisha) 55.67s, Unnathi Bollanda (Karnataka) 56.45s
- Women's U20 400m: Sai Chinthana Senthil (Tamil Nadu) 59.96s, Arpita (Odisha) 1:00.48s
- Women's 1500m: Priyanka C (Karnataka) 4:34.31s
- Women's Triple Jump: Mallala Anusha (JSW) 13.20m, Nimisha Dayma (JSW) 12.93m, Bhairabi Roy (West Bengal) 12.81m
- Women's High Jump: Payal Jamod (Gujarat) 1.71m, Kevinna Ashwine (Tamil Nadu) 1.71m, Pramilla Rajgar (West Bengal) 1.68m
- Women's U20 High Jump: Arpita Sarkar (West Bengal) 1.68m, Juin Mantusa (West Bengal) 1.60m, Anrisha Klein (Meghalaya) 1.60m
The National Indoor Championships have set a new standard for indoor athletics in India, with record-breaking performances and intense competition marking a successful debut. Athletes like Gurvindervir Singh and Harita Bhandra have laid a strong foundation for the future of the sport, promising exciting developments in the upcoming outdoor season.
