Glasgow: Gulveer Singh secures historic silver in ...

By Rohan Gupta — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Gulveer Singh, an Indian long-distance runner, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian to secure a medal in the men’s 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games. He claimed a silver medal at the 2026 edition held in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Singh, who holds a national record, completed the race in 27:49.78, finishing second. Ky Robinson of Australia won the gold medal, while David Mullarkey from the Isle of Man earned the bronze. Notably, traditional powerhouses in distance running, Kenya and Uganda, did not secure any medals in this event.

Race Strategy and Performance

Competing in challenging rain-soaked conditions, Gulveer Singh demonstrated a tactical approach throughout the 25-lap race. He maintained a position within the leading group for the majority of the contest, conserving energy and closely monitoring the frontrunners. As the race neared its conclusion, with one lap remaining, Singh was in third place.

He then executed a strong burst of speed in the final stages, propelling him into second place. This powerful finishing kick secured his historic silver medal, marking a significant achievement for India in Commonwealth Games distance running. His performance on the rainy night did not seem to hinder him.

At the 2,000m mark, Singh was in third position, maintaining a steady pace. By the 5,000m mark, he had clocked 14:16.1s and was in sixth place. He moved up to fifth after 7,000m, navigating the pouring rain and overtaking competitors from outside the inner circle. With 9,000m completed, Singh was in fourth place, keeping pace with the leaders despite the chaotic conditions in the final 2,000m.

Historic Achievement for Indian Athletics

Gulveer Singh’s podium finish marks the end of India’s long wait for a medal in the men’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games. No Indian athlete had previously won a medal in this specific event, making his silver a landmark moment for Indian athletics. He received his silver medal on the podium, sharing the stage with the gold and bronze medalists.

This achievement is also notable as it is the first time in Commonwealth Games history that no African athlete was on the podium for this event. Singh, an Army Naib Subedar, had previously broken the national record in the marathon earlier this year. He also won an Asian Games bronze medal in 2022.

India’s Medal Tally

India has accumulated several medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The list of Indian medallists includes:

Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting)
Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women’s shot put F57)
Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting)
Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting)
Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting)
Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men’s high jump)
Gulveer Singh (silver, men’s 10,000m)
Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting)
Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting)
Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting)
Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women’s shot put F57)
Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting)

In other events, Harjinder Kaur secured a silver medal in the women’s 69kg weightlifting event, achieving a personal-best total of 227kg. She lifted 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk. Canada’s Charlotte Simoneau won gold with a total of 240kg. Additionally, three Indian boxers, Jadumani Singh, Preeti, and Priya, have reached the semifinals, assuring themselves of medals. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam won his men’s 55kg quarterfinal bout against Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale with a 4-1 decision.

However, Kapil Pokhariya lost his men’s 90kg quarterfinal bout to Robert McNulty. In swimming, Srihari Nataraj did not reach the final of the men’s 100m backstroke, finishing 12th overall. The women’s high jump final, featuring Pooja Singh, was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain at Scotstoun Stadium.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com