Gulveer Singh created Indian athletics history by becoming the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men’s 10,000m after securing silver at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium here on Friday.
Gulveer clocked 28:29.38 in the 25-lap race to finish second, adding the silver to the bronze he won in the event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He is now the first Indian to stand on the Asian Games podium twice in the men’s 10,000m.
Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew won gold in 28:27.51, finishing 1.87 seconds ahead of Gulveer, while his compatriot Albert Kiptoo took bronze in 28:34.38. China’s Wang Wenjie finished fourth in 28:38.14.
Gulveer remained close to the leaders through the middle stages of the race and was firmly in medal contention with 2,000m remaining. He maintained his position through the demanding final laps before producing a late surge to finish between Bahrain’s two runners and secure silver.
His latest medal improves on his performance in Hangzhou, where he won bronze behind compatriot Kartik Kumar, who claimed silver. Their double podium in 2023 ended a long wait for India in the men’s 10,000m at the Asian Games.
The Nagoya silver adds to a breakthrough 2026 season for Gulveer. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m, becoming the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the 10,000m.
A Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, Gulveer has established himself among India’s leading long-distance runners. He won bronze in the 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships before completing a 5,000m and 10,000m double at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
The 28-year-old holds Indian national records in both events, clocking 12:59.77 in the 5,000m short track and 27:00.22 in the 10,000m. His 12:59.77 made him the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier indoors.
In 2026, Gulveer also became the first Indian to run a half marathon in under 60 minutes, recording 59:42. He trains at high altitude in Colorado Springs under coach Scott Simmons.
(IANS inputs)
