Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh won the men’s 10,000 metres silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday, September 25. The result improved on the bronze he earned in the same event at the previous Asian Games.
Gulveer Singh Asian Games silver confirmed
Singh finished the 25-lap race in 28 minutes 29.38 seconds. Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew won gold in 28:27.51, leaving the Indian 1.87 seconds behind the champion.
The Times of India reported the result and timings shortly after the final. The Indian Express’s medal tracker independently listed Singh’s silver among India’s medals at the Games.
The performance continued a strong season for the Indian distance runner. Singh had also taken silver in the men’s 10,000m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he moved one place higher than his bronze-medal finish at Hangzhou.
India’s athletics campaign gathers momentum
Singh’s medal added to India’s growing athletics haul in Japan. A day earlier, Seema Kumari won bronze in the women’s 10,000m with a time of 32:50.05, according to the Times of India. India also earned silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, where Vishal TK, M R Poovamma, Manu TT and Vithya Ramraj finished in 3:14.46.
The result is particularly significant because the 10,000m rewards pace management as much as raw speed. Athletes must stay close enough to respond to moves over the closing laps while conserving energy through the early stages. Singh remained in contention and finished less than two seconds behind Balew.
His progression from bronze at Hangzhou to silver in Nagoya also underlines his consistency at major multi-sport competitions. Although the Asian Games result did not bring gold, it strengthened India’s medal count and provided another podium finish in an event traditionally dominated by runners from West and East Asia.
What the result means for India
India ended September 25 with 23 medals, including two golds, nine silvers and 12 bronzes, according to The Indian Express’s Day 8 preview. Singh’s silver was recorded as India’s 24th medal in the publication’s live medal tracker the following morning as additional results were incorporated.
Medal tallies can change quickly during a multi-sport event, so the confirmed individual result is the clearest measure of Singh’s achievement: second place in 28:29.38, behind Balew’s 28:27.51.
The Asian Games continue in Aichi-Nagoya through October 4, with India still competing across athletics, shooting, kabaddi, badminton, squash and other disciplines.
