Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 25 (ANI): India’s long-distance runner Gulveer Singh clinched the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m event at the Asian Games 2026 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Friday.
The 28-year-old runner clocked 28:29.38 to finish second behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who produced a strong late surge to win gold in 28:27.51. Balew’s compatriot Albert Kiptoo claimed the bronze medal with a timing of 28:34.38, according to ESPN.
Gulveer, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, stayed with the leading pack for much of the race and remained in contention until the closing stages. Balew pulled away over the final stretch, but Gulveer held on comfortably for the silver.
The medal marks an improvement for Gulveer from the previous edition, where he won bronze in the men’s 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Gulveer has also enjoyed a strong run of form in recent years. He won gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he became the first Indian to win two medals in track events at a single edition of the Games, taking silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.
Earlier, Gulveer had won bronze in the men’s 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, India’s Pooja finished sixth in the women’s heptathlon 800m with a time of 2:16.43, while Anamika Aneesh was eighth.
India added two athletics medals on Friday, with Manpreet Kaur winning bronze in the women’s shot put. She produced a best throw of 17.17m, while Krishna Jayasankar Menon finished fifth with 16.57m.
At the time of writing, India had 22 medals at the Asian Games, comprising two gold, nine silver and 11 bronze medals, and stood 12th in the standings. (ANI)
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