Gulveer Singh takes 10,000m silver for India at Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya

Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000m at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday, finishing in 28:29.38 behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who claimed gold in 28:27.51. The medal adds to the bronze he won in the same event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Gulveer said the result came from sticking to a pre-race plan aimed at championship running rather than chasing time. “It feels good to win a silver medal for India at the Asian Games. Standing on the podium at a championship like this is satisfying. “We had prepared for a championship race rather than focusing on timing, and I was able to stick to the race plan. This medal is encouraging, but I know there is still a long way to go and many more races ahead.”

On the track, Gulveer remained with the leading pack for most of the race and conserved energy for the closing stages before making his decisive move; he held on to finish second. Birhanu Balew of Bahrain finished ahead to take gold in 28:27.51.

Describing his race approach, Gulveer said: “Championship races are always different from races where you’re chasing time. The plan was to stay relaxed, remain with the lead group, and make my move at the right moment. I trusted the race plan my coach and I had discussed, stayed patient throughout, and thankfully it worked out.”

Gulveer spoke about focusing on incremental gains and credited institutional support for enabling that progress. “Every year my aim is simply to improve a little more. I don’t think too much about results because they come only if the preparation is good. Winning a medal is a nice result. But for me, the important thing is that the progress is continuing. I’m fortunate to have the support of the Athletics Federation of India and the Inspire Institute of Sport. They’ve created an environment where I can focus completely on training and recovery. My coaches help me keep improving in the small details that make a difference. I’ll keep working in the same way and look to get better,” he said.

He also emphasised the contribution of his wider support team to performance on race day. “At this level, it’s often the small things that make the biggest difference. Having the right people around you, from coaches to physiotherapists, strength and conditioning experts, and recovery staff, allows you to focus completely on your training. When those details are taken care of consistently, it helps you perform better on race day.”

Gulveer’s silver provided another podium for India in athletics at the Asian Games, and fans could follow the action via the Sony Sports Network telecast or live streaming on the SonyLIV app. He reiterated his intention to continue the same preparation and training approach, saying, “I’ll keep working in the same way and look to get better.”