Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Indian athletes Gulveer Singh, Manpreet Kaur and Baranica Elangovan for their medal-winning performances at the Asian Games 2026, as the trio added two silver medals and a bronze to India’s athletics tally.
Gulveer won silver in the men’s 10,000m, clocking 28:29.38 to finish behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who claimed gold in 28:27.51. Bahrain’s Albert Kiptoo won bronze in 28:34.38.
The result made Gulveer the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men’s 10,000m, adding the silver to the bronze he won at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
“A bronze earlier and now a silver in Aichi-Nagoya. Gulveer Singh keeps making us proud on the Asian Games podium! Congratulations to him on a fine run in the Men’s 10,000m event. His perseverance and progress will inspire young distance runners across India,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
Gulveer stayed with the leading pack through much of the 25-lap race and remained in medal contention with 2,000m to go before holding his position in the closing stages to secure silver.
Manpreet, meanwhile, won bronze in the women’s shot put with a best throw of 17.17m. She produced the effort on her fourth attempt to finish behind China’s Song Jiayuan and Zhang Linru.
“A fine effort in shot put by Manpreet Kaur! Her impressive throw has earned her a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Congratulations to Manpreet! Wishing her continued success,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The medal made Manpreet only the third Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the shot put. Barbara Webster and Kiran Baliyan had previously won bronze medals in the event.
A former Asian Athletics Championships medallist, Manpreet had finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She returned to the Asian Games podium with her 17.17m effort in Nagoya, while compatriot Krishna Jayasankar Menon finished fifth with 16.57m.
Baranica created another piece of Indian athletics history by becoming the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in the women’s pole vault.
The 29-year-old cleared 4.15m to share the bronze with Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova, who matched her mark and countback record. Baranica cleared 3.85m and 4.00m on her first attempts before clearing 4.15m on her second try. She was unable to clear 4.25m in three attempts.
“A special leap and an exemplary medal for India! Congratulations to Baranica Elangovan on winning the bronze in the women’s pole vault at her Asian Games debut. A proud achievement that will inspire many more young athletes to take up the sport,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Baranica’s medal capped a breakthrough season in which she improved the national record twice, first clearing 4.22m in March before raising it to 4.23m in May.
(IANS Inputs)
