Gulveer Singh improved his Hangzhou 2023 bronze to silver in the 10,000m, finishing in 28:29.38 behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew.
A tactical race in Nagoya
Gulveer Singh’s 10,000m silver was built on disciplined pacing and smart positioning. He maintained his place in the lead group, briefly dropping to fifth before moving up with four laps to go. The final stretch became a sprint, with Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew winning in 28:27.51, Gulveer taking silver in 28:29.38, and Albert Kipto securing bronze in 28:34.18.
From Hangzhou bronze to Nagoya silver
This medal is Gulveer’s second consecutive podium in the Asian Games 10,000m after his bronze in Hangzhou 2023. It builds on his strong form in recent seasons, including medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and double gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships. He also holds national records in multiple distance events, reflecting his stature among Asia’s leading runners.
Athlete’s reflections on performance
Gulveer said the race plan was to remain relaxed, run with the leaders, and make his move at the right time. He credited his coaches and support staff for managing training and recovery, enabling him to perform at his best. He described the podium finish as satisfying and motivating for his upcoming events in Nagoya.
India’s athletics momentum builds
Gulveer’s silver was part of a landmark day for Indian athletics, which also featured Baranica Elangovan’s historic first Asian Games pole vault medal and Manpreet Kaur’s bronze in shot put. These results highlight India’s growing competitiveness in diverse disciplines. The breadth of success signals a strengthening foundation ahead of future international competitions.
