Gulveer Singh runs sub-4-minute mile, first Indian in history
Synopsis
Gulveer Singh just rewrote Indian athletics history — not in a stadium back home, but at a World Continental Tour meet in Cleveland, clocking 3:55.63 to become the first Indian ever to break the four-minute mile. It caps a stunning week in which five Indian athletes simultaneously shattered national barriers across sprints, jumps, and distance events.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh clocked 3:55.63 on 30 May to become the first Indian to run a sub-four-minute mile.
The feat came at the 24th Annual Music City Track Carnival , a World Continental Tour event at Lee University, Cleveland , USA.
Singh also holds India's 5,000m indoor record ( 12:59.77 ) and 10,000m national record ( 27:00.22 ).
He is preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Japan .
The same week, Pooja set a new national high jump record ( 1.93m ), Gurindervir Singh ran sub- 10.10s , Vishal TK went sub- 45s in the 400m, and Tejaswin Shankar crossed 8,000 decathlon points .
Gulveer Singh, the 27-year-old Asian Games bronze medallist in the men's 10,000m, scripted history on Saturday, 30 May by becoming the first Indian runner ever to clock a sub-four-minute mile. The feat came at the 24th Annual Music City Track Carnival, a World Continental Tour event held at Lee University, Cleveland Campus, in the United States.
The Historic Run
Singh posted a time of 3:55.63 in the Men's 1 Mile Pro event, crossing the finish line in first place. Christopher Knight, 20, of the USA, finished second in 3:59.72, while compatriot Tristan Trevino, 21, took third in 4:00.27. Singh's margin over the field was emphatic — he finished more than four seconds clear of the runner-up.
A Record-Breaker Across Distances
The sub-four-minute mile is not Singh's first barrier-breaking achievement. The army runner is also the first Indian to dip under the 13-minute mark in the 5,000m, holding a national indoor record of 12:59.77 set last year in the USA. He additionally holds the men's national track record in the 10,000m at 27:00.22. His versatility across middle and long distances makes him among the most complete Indian distance runners in the country's athletics history.
What's Next for Singh
The India-based-in-USA athlete is currently preparing for two marquee multi-sport events — the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Japan. Saturday's performance will serve as a significant confidence boost and a strong qualifying marker ahead of both competitions.
A Record-Breaking Week for Indian Athletics
Singh's milestone caps a remarkable run of barrier-breaking performances by Indian athletes. At the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, high jumper Pooja cleared 1.93m to win gold, surpassing the decade-old national record of 1.92m set by Sahana Kumari in 2012 and the previous Asian U20 meet record of 1.90m set by Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan in 2006. At the Federation Cup in Ranchi, Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.09s in the 100m, becoming the first Indian to run sub-10.10s and securing Commonwealth and Asian Games qualification. Meanwhile, Vishal TK ran 44.98s in the 400m — the first Indian to go sub-45 — and Tejaswin Shankar crossed 8,000 decathlon points for the first time on Indian soil.
Collectively, this wave of performances signals a generational shift in Indian track and field, with multiple athletes simultaneously rewriting the record books across sprints, jumps, and distance events.
Point of View
No Indian came close. Singh's 3:55.63 is not just a personal landmark; it reframes what Indian distance running can aspire to. What makes this week remarkable is the simultaneity: five different athletes, five different events, five national barriers gone in the span of days. That is not coincidence — it reflects a structural shift in how India is training and deploying its track athletes, many of them army personnel with access to altitude camps and foreign competition. The question now is whether the Athletics Federation of India can convert this moment into a sustained pipeline, or whether these breakthroughs remain isolated peaks on an otherwise flat plateau.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gulveer Singh and what record did he set?
Gulveer Singh is a 27-year-old Indian army runner and Asian Games bronze medallist in the men's 10,000m. On 30 May 2025, he became the first Indian in history to run a sub-four-minute mile, clocking 3:55.63 at the Music City Track Carnival in Cleveland, USA.
Where did Gulveer Singh run the historic sub-four-minute mile?
The run took place at the 24th Annual Music City Track Carnival, a World Continental Tour event held at Lee University, Cleveland Campus, in the United States.
What other national records does Gulveer Singh hold?
Singh holds India's men's 5,000m indoor record of 12:59.77 — making him the first Indian to break the 13-minute barrier — and the men's 10,000m national track record of 27:00.22.
What competitions is Gulveer Singh preparing for next?
Singh is preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Japan, where his recent performances will strengthen his medal prospects in distance events.
What other Indian athletics records were broken in the same week?
High jumper Pooja set a national record of 1.93m at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong; Gurindervir Singh ran 10.09s in the 100m at the Federation Cup in Ranchi; Vishal TK clocked 44.98s in the 400m; and Tejaswin Shankar crossed 8,000 decathlon points for the first time in India.
