CWG 2026: Gulveer makes history by adding 5000m bronze to 10,000m silver
Glasgow, Aug 2
India's top male distance runner Gulveer Singh won a bronze medal in the Men's 5000m, becoming the first Indian to win two medals in track and field competitions in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday.
Gulveer clocked 13:24.95 in the final to secure a bronze medal in the Men's 5000m. He had earlier won a silver medal in the Men's 10,000m with a timing of 27:49.78, achieving a historic first for the country in the Commonwealth Games 2026.
In the 5000m final on Saturday, Gulveer finished behind Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang of Kenya, who won gold in 13:23.61, and Australia's Ky Robinson, who claimed the silver medal in 13:24.70.
Gulveer ran a tactical race, racing to the finish line with a brilliant kick in the final lap, moving from equal-fifth position to third and claiming the bronze medal in 13:24.95.
Gulveer, the 28-year-old Armyman from Atrauli in Uttar Pradesh, remained tucked in the eighth position at the end of the first lap (400m), covering the distance in 1:10.6. He picked up a bit of speed in the second 400m, completing it in 1:06.4, moving to the fourth position at the 1000m mark.
He fell back to seventh as he covered 2400m, nearing the halfway stage. He was fifth going into the final lap and then produced a nice sprint to eventually finish third in 13 minutes 24.95 seconds.
The 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist in 10,000m, Gulveer has won a double in the 2025 Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Gulveer's running journey began on village roads and farmland trails in his native village as he prepared for recruitment into the Indian Army. After joining The Grenadiers Regiment in 2018, he steadily rose through the ranks of Indian athletics to become the country's premier distance runner.
Gulveer made his international breakthrough with a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and followed it up with a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games.
He established himself as Asia's leading long-distance runner in 2025 by winning double gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
A prolific record-breaker, Gulveer holds the Indian national records in the 5000m, 10,000m, one mile, and half marathon. In 2025, he became the first Indian to run a sub-4-minute mile, clocking 3:55.63, and the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes with a time of 59:42.
He also made history by clocking 12:59.77 for 5000m indoors, becoming the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier and setting a new Asian record. Training regularly at the high-performance centre in Colorado Springs, Gulveer has emerged as a trailblazer for Indian distance running. His achievements have elevated India's presence on the global distance-running stage and established him as one of the country's strongest medal prospects at major international championships.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Incredible double medal haul! But honestly, I wish our government would invest more in athletics infrastructure at the grassroots level. Imagine what talents we could produce if every Gulveer got proper training facilities from a young age. Still, massive respect to him for making it this far on sheer hard work 🙌
Sub-13 minute indoor 5000m record and now double CWG medals! He's literally rewriting the record books. And he's an Armyman too - our soldiers keep winning hearts both on and off the field. Congratulations Gulveer bhai! 🎉
That final lap sprint was something else! He was 5th and then just exploded in the last 400m. The tactical awareness to save energy and time his kick perfectly - this is what separates champions from the rest. Lekin abhi aur bhi records aana baaki hai! 💪
From Atrauli village to Colorado Springs training center - what an inspiring journey! The Grenadiers Regiment must be so proud. This is the kind of news that makes every Indian feel hopeful about our sporting future. Congratulations Gulveer! 🏅🏅
As someone who follows distance running closely, this is genuinely impressive. Gulveer's progression from Asian level to Commonwealth medals in one cycle shows he belongs on the world stage. That sub-4 minute mile and 59:42 half marathon are world-class times. India has a real gem here.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.