'Seriously blown away': Akshay Kumar celebrates Gurindervir Singh becoming India's fastest man

Akshay Kumar joined the chorus of praise for Punjab sprinter Gurindervir Singh, who etched his name in the history books by becoming the fastest Indian man in the 100m event. At the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition 2026 held in Ranchi, Gurindervir put up a stunning display by clocking 10.09 seconds, making him the first Indian athlete to finish the men's 100m race in under 10.1 seconds. The landmark achievement drew applause from all corners of the country, with cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh also weighing in with their congratulations. Akshay, equally moved by the feat, hailed the sprinter and said his record-breaking run challenged and changed long-standing perceptions about Indian athletes in the world of sprinting.

Akshay Kumar says Gurindervir Singh's breakthrough has changed opinions for good

The actor took to X praised Gurindervir and mark what he called a defining moment for Indian athletics. Sharing a picture of the young sprinter, Kumar expressed his awe at the achievement, saying he had been following the news of Gurindervir becoming India's fastest man and was "seriously blown away" by what he had accomplished. The actor reflected on how the 100m race had long been seen as foreign territory, dominated by international athletes while many had written off the possibility of an Indian ever matching up. With this breakthrough, Kumar noted, those opinions have now changed for good.

Akshay Kumar proud of Gurindervir Singh's armed forces connect and Punjabi roots

Beyond the record-breaking run, Akshay Kumar found even more reasons to celebrate Gurindervir. The actor voiced his pride not just in the sprinter's remarkable achievement on the track, but also in his ties to the armed forces and the fact that the young athlete hails from Punjab, a connection that clearly struck a deep chord with Kumar.

Gurindervir Singh's journey from self-doubt to becoming India's fastest man

Gurindervir's stunning run meant much more than just breaking a record. His performance also earned him qualification for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, which is a huge achievement in itself. But his journey to this point was not easy. In a chat with Sportstar, the 25-year-old opened up about his early days as a sprinter, sharing how many coaches told him to leave the 100m and move to the 400m event instead. Many people back then believed that Indian athletes did not have the right body type to do well in short-distance sprinting. But Gurindervir did not give up or listen to the negativity. He kept working hard, stayed focused and believed in himself. Today, that belief has paid off beautifully, as he stands tall as one of the most exciting young athletes in Indian sports.

Akshay Kumar's upcoming projects: From 'Golmaal 5' to alien thriller 'Samuk'

On the work front, Akshay Kumar has a packed lineup ahead. The actor is gearing up for several exciting projects including ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Haiwaan’ and ‘Golmaal 5’. He will also be seen in the much-talked-about alien action thriller ‘Samuk’, which is slated to hit the big screen in 2027.