Rijiju hails Gulveer Singh's Silver in 10,000m at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated Gulveer Singh for winning silver in the Men's 10,000m at the Asian Games 2026, marking a notable podium finish for Indian distance running on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the Men's 10,000m at the Asian Games 2026 .
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated Singh via X on 25 September 2026 .
Rijiju used the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat , framing the medal as a national achievement.
Rijiju is a former Union Sports Minister, lending added significance to his acknowledgement of an athletics result.
The medal adds to India's athletics programme visibility at the continental level.
A silver medal in the men's 10,000 metres — and a senior Union Minister pausing to notice. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took to X on Friday, 25 September 2026 to congratulate distance runner Gulveer Singh on his podium finish at the Asian Games 2026, calling it a moment worth celebrating for the nation.
Rijiju's post was direct and warm: 'Congratulations to Gulveer Singh on securing the Silver Medal in the Men's 10,000m at the #AsianGames2026. Well Done Gulveer! #Cheer4Bharat.' The hashtag #Cheer4Bharat — a rallying cry that has accompanied Indian sporting moments across multiple Games cycles — framed the achievement as a collective win, not just an individual one.
Gulveer Singh on the Asian Games podium
Distance running has historically been one of the more competitive disciplines on the Asian athletics circuit, with runners from Japan, Kenya-origin athletes representing Gulf nations, and China regularly contesting the front of the pack in the 10,000m. A silver medal in that field signals genuine continental-level competitiveness. Gulveer Singh's finish puts him among the small cohort of Indian distance runners who have claimed Asian Games medals in track events — a list that has grown only slowly over decades.
India's performance in the athletics programme at the Asian Games has been a closely watched barometer of the country's broader investment in track and field. Distance events, which demand years of high-altitude training and systematic race exposure, have seen renewed attention from national federations and sports bodies in recent years.
Why Rijiju's acknowledgement carries weight
Kiren Rijiju, a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh, has long been associated with Indian sports governance — he served as Union Sports Minister before his current portfolio — giving his congratulations more than ceremonial weight. His recognition of an athletics result, rather than a higher-profile sport, signals the kind of institutional attention distance runners rarely receive in a country where cricket commands most of the oxygen.
For Gulveer Singh, the silver is a landmark. For Indian athletics, it is another data point in a slow, steady upward curve. The final medal tally from the Asian Games 2026 athletics programme will determine where this moment sits in that larger story — but for now, a runner stood on the podium, and the country took note.
Point of View
A discipline that demands long development cycles and generates little commercial revenue. The silver in the 10,000m, a gruelling track event, is precisely the kind of result that risks going unnoticed without institutional amplification. Whether ministerial attention translates into sustained support structures for distance runners will be the real test of that intent.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gulveer Singh?
Gulveer Singh is an Indian long-distance track athlete who competed in the Men's 10,000m at the Asian Games 2026, winning the silver medal.
What medal did India win in the 10,000m at the Asian Games 2026?
India's Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the Men's 10,000m event at the Asian Games 2026.
Who congratulated Gulveer Singh on his Asian Games medal?
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated Gulveer Singh on his silver medal via a post on X on 25 September 2026.
What is #Cheer4Bharat?
'#Cheer4Bharat' is a popular hashtag used by Indian politicians, officials, and fans to rally support for Indian athletes at international sporting events.
Was Kiren Rijiju ever the Sports Minister of India?
Yes, Kiren Rijiju previously served as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports before taking on his current role as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs.
