Anurag Thakur Hails Gulveer Singh's Historic CWG Silver
Synopsis
Gulveer Singh has become the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the Men's 10,000m, claiming silver at CWG 2026. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former sports minister, hailed the achievement as history scripted for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the Men's 10,000m at CWG 2026 .
He is the first Indian athlete ever to win a Commonwealth Games medal in this event.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, publicly congratulated Singh on 29 July 2026 .
India's endurance track programme has grown steadily across Commonwealth Games editions including Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 .
Singh's result sets a new benchmark as Indian athletics eyes the next World Athletics Championships and the Olympics .
A first in Indian athletics history landed on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 — and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was among the first to mark the moment. Gulveer Singh has become the first Indian athlete ever to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the Men's 10,000m, claiming silver at CWG 2026.
Thakur wrote: 'History Scripted! Many congratulations to our Champion Gulveer Singh on becoming the first Indian to win a commonwealth medal in the Men's 10,000m race. You've created history by winning the Silver medal in the Men's 10,000m Race in the #CWG2026. The entire nation salutes your dedication, hardwork and unwavering determination. Jai Hind.'
A blank page in India's distance-running record — now filled
The Men's 10,000m is one of track and field's most gruelling disciplines — 25 laps, raw endurance, and a tactical finish that separates contenders from champions. For decades, the event sat as one of the few Commonwealth distances where India had never stood on the podium. Gulveer Singh has closed that chapter. His silver is not just a personal milestone; it is a structural first for Indian long-distance running at the Games. India's presence in endurance track events at the Commonwealth Games has grown across successive editions — from Gold Coast 2018 to Birmingham 2022 — as national sports bodies invested in athlete pipelines and training infrastructure. Singh's medal is the most visible dividend of that incremental build.Thakur's stake in the win
Anurag Thakur's congratulations carry particular weight here. As a former minister who oversaw the sports portfolio, he was directly involved in the policy and funding environment that shaped India's athletics push in the years leading up to this result. His acknowledgment of Singh's 'unwavering determination' reflects the personal connection he maintains with the athletes and programmes he once stewarded from government. With Indian athletics now watching how Singh and his peers translate Commonwealth form into global-stage performances — the next World Athletics Championships and the Olympics loom large — this silver is less an endpoint than a launchpad.Point of View
000m had been a persistent blank in India's Commonwealth Games athletics record. For Anurag Thakur, the congratulation is also a validation: as former sports minister he presided over the infrastructure investments that underpin this result. The win fits a broader pattern of India converting endurance-event potential into podium finishes, a trend that will now face its sharpest test at the Olympics and World Athletics Championships. If Singh sustains this form on the global circuit, it will strengthen the case for deeper long-distance investment in India's sports policy pipeline.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gulveer Singh?
Gulveer Singh is an Indian long-distance runner who, at CWG 2026, became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the Men's 10,000m event, claiming silver.
What did Gulveer Singh win at CWG 2026?
Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the Men's 10,000m race at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a historic first for India in that event.
Why is Gulveer Singh's medal historic?
No Indian athlete had previously won a Commonwealth Games medal in the Men's 10,000m. Singh's silver breaks that drought and sets a new benchmark for Indian long-distance running.
What did Anurag Thakur say about Gulveer Singh?
Anurag Thakur posted on X calling the achievement 'History Scripted' and said 'the entire nation salutes your dedication, hardwork and unwavering determination.'
What is Anurag Thakur's connection to Indian sports?
Anurag Thakur is a BJP MP from Hamirpur and served as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, overseeing India's national sports policy and athlete development programmes.
