Punjab Athletes Shine at Asian Games: Tales of Triumph and Resilience
Celebrating Punjab's Athletic Achievements
New Delhi, October 2: Following their participation in the Asian Games, two athletes from Punjab have returned home with inspiring stories. Veteran shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and emerging sprinter Gurindervir Singh showcased their talents on an international stage.
Toor, a three-time medalist at the Asian Games, demonstrated his unwavering spirit despite facing numerous challenges. In contrast, Gurindervir revealed the emotional struggles athletes often endure, striving to meet the expectations set by their fans.
After securing consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games, Tajinder achieved a remarkable feat by winning a silver medal in shot put with a throw of 20.64 meters, although it fell short of his national record of 21.77 meters. Meanwhile, Gurindervir, who holds the national record for the 100 meters, finished fifth in his individual event but contributed to a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay.
Upon arriving at Delhi airport with the athletics team, Toor expressed his disappointment at narrowly missing gold due to adverse weather conditions. He addressed the skepticism surrounding his selection for the event, countering it with a medal and a bold social media declaration: 'Toor is here.' He confidently stated, 'Tiger abhi zinda hai' (the tiger is still alive).
Reflecting on his performance, Toor shared, 'I feel great, but I was aiming for gold. It slipped away by just 17 centimeters. Despite the rain, I’m proud to have won a medal for my country.'
In his social media update, he mentioned, 'I finished third at the Inter-State event due to an injury, leading to questions about my selection. That’s why I asserted, 'Toor is still here.' The tiger is still alive.'
Toor expressed his aspirations for the future, aiming for a 22-meter throw and Olympic success after facing injuries in previous Olympic Games. 'This year, I could have performed better; I was consistently throwing over 21.50 meters in practice. My goal for next year is to reach 22 meters. My last two Olympics were challenging due to injuries, but I’m determined to excel at the LA 2028 Olympics.'
Gurindervir gained recognition this year with a groundbreaking performance at the Federation Cup, becoming the first Indian man to clock under 10.10 seconds in the 100m with a national record of 10.09 seconds. However, he faced setbacks during the Commonwealth Games 2026 due to a hamstring injury, finishing 28th overall with a time of 10.39 seconds. At Aichi-Nagoya, he finished fifth in the semifinal with a time of 10.32 seconds but secured a bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay alongside teammates Animesh Kujur, Harita Bhadra, Sneha Gowda, and Abinaya Rajarajan.
In an interview, Gurindervir expressed his commitment to training harder for future competitions while acknowledging the mental pressures athletes face. 'Winning a medal brings immense joy. We will strive for more medals. Sometimes, mental readiness is crucial. Overthinking can hinder performance, which I experienced. Now that I’ve won a medal, that stress is lifted. I will train and compete without stress moving forward.'
When compared to the legendary Milkha Singh, Gurindervir feels honored but focuses solely on his own performance during races. 'It’s flattering to be compared to Milkha Singh, but I concentrate on my hard work while running.'