Mandaviya Hails Gulveer's CWG Bronze in Men's 5000m
Synopsis
Indian long-distance runner Gulveer won a Bronze Medal in the Men's 5000m at CWG 2026, becoming the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games medals in both the 5000m and 10000m. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the TOPS-backed athlete's historic double as an extraordinary achievement for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer won the Bronze Medal in the Men's 5000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 .
This is India's first-ever CWG medal in the 5000m , adding to a first-ever medal in the 10000m at the same Games.
Gulveer is a TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) athlete, backed under the government's elite sports funding programme launched in 2014 .
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly celebrated the win, calling it 'an extraordinary feat.' The double historic medal haul marks a significant milestone for Indian distance running on the international stage.
A name called twice — Gulveer… Gulveer!! — says everything about the moment. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya erupted in celebration on Sunday, 2 August 2026, as Indian long-distance runner Gulveer claimed a Bronze Medal in the Men's 5000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 — completing a historic double that no Indian athlete had ever managed before.
India's First-Ever CWG Medals in Both 5000m and 10000m
The achievement is not just a medal — it is a first. Gulveer has now won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medals in both the 5000m and the 10000m, a feat Minister Mandaviya described as 'an extraordinary feat.' For Indian athletics, a discipline long overshadowed by field events and racquet sports on the medals table, this is a landmark that rewrites the record books in a single Games. Mandaviya's post captured the raw emotion of the moment, opening with a double call of the athlete's name before offering 'heartiest congratulations' and declaring, 'The entire nation is proud of you!'How TOPS Backed Gulveer's Long Road to the Podium
Gulveer competes as a TOPS athlete — supported under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme, launched in 2014 to identify and fund elite Indian sportspersons across Olympic and multi-sport disciplines. TOPS provides financial assistance, specialised coaching, equipment, and international exposure to athletes who show podium potential. For a long-distance runner — a category that demands years of high-altitude training, physiological monitoring, and consistent international competition — that kind of structured, long-term backing is often the difference between a near-miss and a medal. India has steadily expanded TOPS coverage into athletics, recognising that track and field offers a deep well of potential medals that the country had historically left untapped. Gulveer's CWG double is the clearest validation yet of that strategic bet.What This Means for Indian Distance Running
Indian athletics has long punched below its weight at the Commonwealth Games in distance events. A bronze in the 5000m — on top of a medal already secured in the 10000m — signals that the pipeline is producing. It also raises the stakes for what comes next: with the Olympic cycle in view, a distance runner who has already broken two CWG barriers will carry enormous expectation into the next major championships. For now, the scoreboard tells a simple, powerful story. Gulveer stepped onto the track, ran into history, and made a nation stop and say his name — twice.Point of View
Which is precisely the stepping stone TOPS was designed to build. For Minister Mandaviya, the moment is also political capital: a visible, emotional win that ties government policy directly to national pride. The real test will be whether the TOPS pipeline can sustain and convert this momentum into Olympic finals.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gulveer and what did he win at CWG 2026?
Gulveer is an Indian long-distance runner and a TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) athlete who won the Bronze Medal in the Men's 5000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 .
Has India ever won a CWG medal in the 5000m before?
No. Gulveer's bronze is India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the Men's 5000m . He also secured India's first-ever CWG medal in the 10000m at the same Games.
What is the TOPS scheme in India?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched in 2014 to identify and support elite Indian athletes with financial assistance, coaching, equipment, and international competition exposure ahead of major multi-sport events.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about Gulveer's medal?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted on X calling Gulveer's achievement 'an extraordinary feat' and said 'the entire nation is proud of you,' opening his message with an emotional double call of the athlete's name.
What is India's CWG 2026 performance in athletics?
At CWG 2026 , India achieved historic firsts in distance running through Gulveer , who became the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games medals in both the 5000m and the 10000m .
