Daijiworld Media Network - Nagoya
Nagoya, Sep 25: Gulveer Singh scripted a slice of Indian athletics history by becoming the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men's 10,000m after clinching silver at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya on Friday.
Gulveer clocked 28:29.38 to finish second in the gruelling 25-lap race, adding silver to the bronze he won in the same event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He thus became the first Indian to stand on the Asian Games podium twice in the men's 10,000m.
Bahrain's Birhanu Balew won the gold in 28:27.51, finishing 1.87 seconds ahead of Gulveer, while his compatriot Albert Kiptoo claimed bronze in 28:34.38. China's Wang Wenjie finished fourth in 28:38.14.
Gulveer stayed close to the leaders through the middle stages of the race and remained firmly in medal contention with 2,000 metres remaining. He held his position through the gruelling closing laps before producing enough pace to split Bahrain's two runners and secure the silver.
The latest medal marks a significant improvement from Hangzhou, where Gulveer won bronze behind compatriot Kartik Kumar, who took 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. The Indian Olympic Association records his 10,000m silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Gulveer, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, has established himself as one of India's leading long-distance runners. He won bronze in the 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships before completing a golden double in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
The 28-year-old is also a prolific record-breaker. He holds Indian national records in the 5,000m and 10,000m, with timings of 12:59.77 in the 5,000m short track and 27:00.22 in the 10,000m. World Athletics lists both marks as his national records. His 12:59.77 also 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, clocking 59:42. He trains at high altitude in Colorado Springs under coach Scott Simmons.