Gurindervir smashes 60m gold as Animesh Kujur faces heartbreak

The inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships concluded in dramatic fashion at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday, with Punjab sprinter Gurindervir Singh clinching the men’s 60m gold in a stunning national record time . The spotlight, however, was on the shocking disqualification of pre-race favourite Animesh Kujur , leaving the 17,000-strong crowd stunned.

Representing Reliance Foundation , the 25-year-old Gurindervir clocked 6.60 seconds , eclipsing the previous national indoor best of 6.67 seconds set by Elakiya Dasan in 2018. Although the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) does not officially maintain indoor records, Gurindervir’s performance set the tone for a thrilling final.

The race itself was fraught with tension, featuring three false starts , with the final one resulting in Animesh, national 100m and 200m outdoor record holder , receiving a red card. Two other athletes, Dondapati Mrutyam and Nehal Sagar , were also disqualified. Despite his disappointment, Animesh spoke briefly with race officials before leaving the track.

“I pleaded with officials to let Animesh run under protest,” Gurindervir said. “He’s strong competition, and the crowd was behind him. It would have pushed me even more. But rules are rules.” Odisha’s Lalu Prasad Bhoi took silver with 6.65 seconds , while Haryana’s Nuzrat claimed bronze at 6.71 seconds.

Elsewhere, Tamil Nadu’s C Reegan soared to gold in the men’s pole vault with a national indoor best of 5.30m , narrowly missing the combined national record of 5.41m. Competing in his maiden indoor event, the 24-year-old Reegan cleared 4.95m, 5.10m, 5.20m, and 5.30m, gaining valuable experience. Coach Milber Bertrand Russell noted that equipment adjustments affected his attempts for the record.

The championships marked a spectacular start to India’s indoor athletics scene, showcasing rising talents and hinting at more thrilling performances in the future.