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History on the track! Gulveer Singh wins India's first-ever CWG men's 10,000m medal with silver

Gulveer Singh delivered one of his greatest performances to clock 27:49.78 to finish second in the men's 10,000m

Updated on: Jul 29, 2026, 07:05:27 IST
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India's long-distance star Gulveer Singh etched his name into Commonwealth Games history on Tuesday as he became the first Indian ever to win a medal in the men's 10,000m after producing a sensational late burst to claim silver at the 2026 Games in Glasgow.

Gulveer Singh won historic silver at the CWG 2026
Gulveer Singh won historic silver at the CWG 2026

The 27-year-old, widely regarded as India's finest distance runner, delivered one of his greatest performances to clock 27:49.78 to finish second behind Australia's Ky Robinson, while the Isle of Man's David Mullarkey settled for bronze, as traditional distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Uganda were pushed off the podium.

Having stayed with the lead pack throughout the race, the Asian Games bronze medallist timed his challenge to perfection. Running in difficult conditions with heavy downpour and a rain-soaked track at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, the Indian kicked hard over the final lap to surge into second place, holding off the chasing pack and ensuring India celebrated a historic breakthrough in an event where it had never previously reached the podium.

ALSO READ: Harjinder Kaur's silver keeps weightlifting dominance alive; India's boxing guarantees podium finishes

This was India's second medal win on Day 6 at the CWG 2026, with Harjinder Kaur having finished second in Women's 69kg weightlifting, thus taking the overall medal tally to 12. India is also assured of three boxing medals with Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas and Jadumani Singh progressing to the semifinals in their respective weight categories.

CWG 2026 - MEDAL TALLY

The historic silver was the latest milestone in Gulveer's remarkable rise from the village roads of Sirsa in Uttar Pradesh to the Commonwealth Games podium. A serving Naib Subedar in the Indian Army's Grenadiers Regiment, Gulveer joined the force in 2018 before emerging as India's leading long-distance runner.

After winning Asian Championship and Asian Games medals, he announced himself as Asia's best in 2025 with gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Asian Athletics Championships. A prolific record-breaker, he holds the Indian records in the 5,000m, 10,000m, one mile and half marathon, while becoming the first Indian to run a sub-four-minute mile and a sub-60-minute half marathon, cementing his status as one of the country's greatest-ever distance runners.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Aratrick Mondal

    Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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