CWG 2026: Gulveer Singh clinches silver in 10,000m with stunning final-lap kick
Synopsis
Gulveer Singh just rewrote Indian athletics history in Glasgow — becoming the first Indian to medal in the Commonwealth Games 10,000m. The Army soldier from Aligarh's Sirsa village, who began running on farmland trails, surged from 9th place to silver with a final-lap kick that left Australia's Ky Robinson as the only man ahead of him.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh won silver in the men's 10,000m at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on Tuesday, 29 July .
He finished in 27:49.78 , behind Australia's Ky Robinson ( 27:48.93 ) and ahead of Isle of Man's David Mullarkey ( 27:50.28 ).
Gulveer is the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the 10,000m.
He recovered from 9th place at the 5,600m mark to finish second, powered by a decisive final-lap surge.
The 28-year-old holds national records in 3,000m , 5,000m , and 10,000m , with a personal best of 27:00.22 set in 2025 .
He is a serving Naib Subedar in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army , originally from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh .
India's Gulveer Singh claimed a historic silver medal in the men's 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Tuesday night, finishing in 27:49.78 with a devastating late surge that powered him past rivals in the closing lap. The achievement makes Gulveer the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games 10,000m.
How the Race Unfolded
Gulveer opened cautiously, beginning the race in 2nd position before settling into the leading pack through the early stages. Around the halfway mark he slipped to 6th place, and by the 5,600m mark he had dropped as far as 9th as the field accelerated. However, the 28-year-old Uttar Pradesh-born runner began his charge with 1,000m remaining, climbing back to 3rd entering the final lap before unleashing a trademark kick to seal silver.
Australia's Ky Robinson crossed the line first in 27:48.93, while Isle of Man's David Mullarkey took bronze in 27:50.28. Kenya's Edwin Kurgat finished a close 4th in 27:50.98 — his season's best — narrowly missing the podium.
A Historic Milestone for Indian Athletics
Gulveer's silver is a landmark moment for Indian long-distance running. No Indian had previously won a Commonwealth Games medal in the event, making this a genuine first in the country's athletics history. The performance adds to a rapidly growing medal cabinet: a bronze in the 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, a bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games, and double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
The Man Behind the Medal
A serving Naib Subedar in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army, Gulveer was born in Sirsa village, Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh. He began running on village roads and farmland trails while preparing for Army recruitment — a humble origin that now underpins one of India's most decorated long-distance careers. He holds national records in the 3,000m, 5,000m, and 10,000m.
Time and Context
Tuesday's finishing time of 27:49.78 is notably slower than Gulveer's personal best of 27:00.22 — a national record he set in 2025. The Glasgow conditions and tactical nature of the race, rather than a time trial, account for the gap. Notably, this is the third major international podium finish of his career and cements his status as Asia's premier long-distance runner heading into the next Olympic cycle.
Point of View
The 10,000m was considered beyond India's competitive reach at multi-sport Games; Tuesday's result challenges that assumption directly. What is equally significant is that Gulveer achieved this while running well below his personal best, suggesting the performance ceiling is higher still. The real question now is whether the Athletics Federation of India and the Army Sports Institute can build the support infrastructure — altitude camps, international race exposure, specialist coaching — to convert this momentum into Olympic finals contention before the next Games cycle closes.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gulveer Singh win at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Gulveer Singh won a silver medal in the men's 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, finishing in 27:49.78. He is the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in this event.
Who won gold in the CWG 2026 men's 10,000m?
Australia's Ky Robinson won the gold medal, finishing in 27:48.93 — just 0.85 seconds ahead of Gulveer Singh. Isle of Man's David Mullarkey claimed bronze in 27:50.28.
What is Gulveer Singh's personal best in the 10,000m?
Gulveer Singh's personal best is 27:00.22, a national record he set in 2025. His Glasgow time of 27:49.78 is slower, reflecting the tactical nature of the race rather than a time-trial effort.
What other medals has Gulveer Singh won internationally?
Gulveer Singh has won a bronze in the 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, a bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games, and double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Who is Gulveer Singh and where is he from?
Gulveer Singh is a 28-year-old Indian long-distance runner and a serving Naib Subedar in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army. He was born in Sirsa village, Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, and began his running career on village roads while preparing for Army recruitment.
