Gulveer Singh Clinches India’s First Gold, Wins Men’s 10,000m At 2025 Asian Athletics Championships
Gulveer Singh delivered a historic performance at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships 2025 by winning the men’s 10,000m event, securing India’s first gold of the tournament. Clocking 28:38.63, the 26-year-old surged past Bahrain’s Albert Kibichi Rop in the final lap to clinch the top spot.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) celebrated the victory on X, posting: “First Gold for India🇮🇳 at Asian #Athletics Championships 2025 Gulveer Singh clinches India's first Gold at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea🇰🇷, securing the top spot in Men's 10,000m with a timing of 28:38.63. Many congratulations, champion. This victory is just the beginning, more glory awaits!”
With this feat, Gulveer became only the third Indian to win gold in this event at the Asian Championships, following Hari Chand (1975) and G Lakshmanan (2017).
Fellow Indian runner Sawan Barwal narrowly missed out on a podium finish, placing fourth.
Gulveer’s rise has been steady and impressive. He won bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games, followed by another bronze at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. That same year, he also clinched bronze in the 5000m event.
In 2023, Gulveer set national records in both the 5000m (13:11.82) and 10,000m (27:14.88). In early 2025, he clocked 12:59.77 in the 5000m at the Boston University Terrier DMR Challenge, finishing close behind Olympic medalists. He also broke a 16-year-old Indian indoor record in the 3000m, timing 7:38.26 at the BU Valentine Invitational.
"I'm elated to have clocked a good time in my season's first Indoor race in Boston," he said in an AFI release.
"Good performance over 3000m (Indoor) has given a big boost to my confidence. I should be able to do better during upcoming outdoor races."
Currently training in Colorado Springs, USA, under coach Scott Simmons, Gulveer is aiming to meet the World Championships qualifying mark of 27:00.00 in the 10,000m.
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