India's premier long-distance runner Gulveer Singh has declared that a podium finish — not the identity of his rivals — is the only thought on his mind when he steps onto the starting line at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan. The 28-year-old national record holder, buoyed by a double-medal haul at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, said the continental competition will be demanding but that past success has replaced anxiety with conviction.

Commonwealth Games Momentum

Gulveer's confidence is grounded in a landmark Glasgow campaign where he clocked 13:24.95 to claim a bronze in the Men's 5000m and a silver in the Men's 10,000m with a timing of 27:49.78 — a historic first for India at the Commonwealth Games. Earlier this year, he also became the first Indian runner to complete a sub-60-minute half marathon, underscoring the sustained improvement in his endurance and pace.

'There will definitely be pressure because high-calibre athletes compete at the Asian Games. But the medals at the Commonwealth Games gave me a lot of confidence, and the continuous support from the government has been a massive driving force,' Gulveer said.

Asian Games 2026 Schedule and Ambitions

At Aichi-Nagoya, Gulveer will compete across three events — the 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m — making it his most demanding multi-event programme at an Asian Games. He previously won a bronze in the 10,000m at the Asian Games 2023, adding to the 5000m bronze he had secured at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok earlier that year.

'When you stand on the starting line, there is only one thought in your mind; to win a medal for the country. It doesn't matter who is standing next to you. Everyone works equally hard, and on race day, it all boils down to whose body holds up better. All the competitors will come fully prepared, but I am confident I will bring home medals for India,' he said.

Training in the United States Under Scott Simmons

Gulveer has been based at Colorado Springs, USA, under American coach Scott Simmons since 2024, a move he credits with closing the gap on elite global competitors. He noted that training in isolation in India — where a structured elite distance group is largely absent — was a key limitation that the overseas setup has addressed.

'In India, we lack an elite distance training group, forcing you to train in isolation. In the US, there are several top athletes who push and support each other,' he explained. Simmons, he added, tailors each training block by specifically analysing the race strategies of top international runners — a tactical edge Gulveer considers significant.

With the Asian Games approaching, Gulveer said the training emphasis has shifted decisively from endurance to speed. 'After the Commonwealth Games, we primarily focused on endurance training. Now, with very little time left for the Asian Games, the focus has moved to speed building. I am strictly adhering to the regimen set by my coach,' he said.

Mindset Shift on Global Competition

Gulveer acknowledged a broader psychological transformation among Indian distance runners who have tested themselves on the world stage. 'Earlier, we used to think that foreign runners were far superior to us. But after competing alongside them on the big stage, we realised we are right at their level,' he said. This confidence, he noted, is no longer aspirational — it is backed by stopwatch data and podium finishes.

Asics Partnership and the Road Ahead

Off the track, Gulveer inked a sponsorship deal with footwear brand Asics in January 2026, which he credits with contributing to his sub-60-minute half-marathon breakthrough. 'Running in their shoes helped me achieve the sub-60 half-marathon mark, and their support has been vital in this journey,' he said.

With three events on his Aichi-Nagoya programme and a training camp finely tuned for peak performance, Gulveer heads into the Asian Games as India's most credible medal hope in distance running — and as an athlete who has demonstrably narrowed the margin between Indian and global standards.