Gulveer Singh became the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men’s 10,000m after securing silver in Nagoya, adding to his bronze from Hangzhou in 2023 and further strengthening his reputation as one of India’s leading long-distance runners.
Nagoya, Sept 2026 : Gulveer Singh scripted a new chapter in Indian athletics on Friday by becoming the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men’s 10,000m, claiming silver at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
Gulveer clocked 28:29.38 in the gruelling 25-lap race to finish second, adding the silver to the bronze he won in the same event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. His latest achievement makes him the first Indian athlete 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 just 1.87 seconds ahead of Gulveer, while his compatriot Albert Kiptoo secured bronze in 28:34.38. China’s Wang Wenjie finished fourth with a time of 28:38.14.
Gulveer remained close to the leading group through the middle stages and stayed firmly in medal contention with around 2,000 metres remaining. He maintained his position through the demanding final laps before producing a decisive burst of pace to separate Bahrain’s two runners and secure the silver.
The Nagoya medal also represents an improvement on Gulveer’s performance in Hangzhou, where he won bronze behind compatriot Kartik Kumar, who claimed silver. Their double podium in 2023 had ended a long wait for India in the men’s 10,000m at the Asian Games.
The silver adds to a remarkable 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, the 28-year-old has steadily established himself among India’s leading 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.
Gulveer is also the holder of Indian national records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. He clocked 12:59.77 in the indoor 5,000m 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.
Earlier in 2026, Gulveer became the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes, recording 59:42.
He trains at high altitude in Colorado Springs under coach Scott Simmons, with his latest Asian Games medal providing another landmark moment in an increasingly decorated distance-running career.
