Gulveer Singh wins 5000m bronze in Nagoya to complete three individual medals at Asian Games
Gulveer Singh won bronze in the men's 5000m at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Tuesday, completing an individual three-medal haul at the 2026 edition of the Games. His podium in the 5000m made him the first Indian since P.T. Usha in 1986 to claim three individual athletics medals at a single Asian Games.
Gulveer finished the 5000m in 13:32.75, adding a bronze to the two silvers he had already earned in Nagoya; he said after the race that he had not realised the historical significance of the achievement. "I didn't know that because I didn't understand all that. I started running in 2021. I was not even born when she won 4 medals," Gulveer said.
Gulveer's Asian Games campaign began with silver in the men's 10,000m, where he clocked 28:29.38, improving on the bronze he won in the same event at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. He followed that with a personal best of 3:36.72 to take silver in the 1500m before closing with bronze in the 5000m.
At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier in 2026, Gulveer won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5000m, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in track events at a single Commonwealth Games. He entered the Asian Games as a double Asian champion, having taken gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, and he holds the Indian records in the 5000m and 10,000m at 12:59.77 and 27:00.22 respectively.
Gulveer credited a training stint in the United States and support from the Athletics Federation of India for his progress. "I trained in good weather conditions. But it was not great here. AFI has supported me a lot. I trained in Colorado Springs in the US with Scott Simmons for six months. I thought after CWG, I would train in India. But, I was told by AFI to train there, go back to the US," he said.
Vithya Ramraj also secured a three-medal haul in Nagoya, adding gold in the women's 4x400m relay to the silver she won in the mixed 4x400m relay and a bronze in the individual 400m hurdles. Her 400m hurdles time of 54.75 seconds broke P.T. Usha's national record of 55.42 seconds; unlike Gulveer's three individual medals, Vithya's tally includes two team medals.
Speaking after the 5000m, Gulveer said he had no regrets about his performances in Nagoya and voiced a desire to improve on the outcome next time. "I don't have any regrets. But, I came here thinking I would hear the national anthem here. That didn't happen. But, definitely next time," he said.
