Gulveer Singh’s Asian Games Hat-Trick: Dal, Devotion and Three Medals
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026: Three Medals, One Remarkable Story
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026 campaign ended with a remarkable three-medal haul in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian distance runner won silver in the 10,000m, silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 5000m, becoming only the second Indian man and fourth Indian overall to win three athletics medals at a single edition of the Asian Games. His final medal came on September 29, when he clocked 13:32.75 for bronze in the 5000m.
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026 Journey Begins With 10,000m Silver
Gulveer opened his medal campaign in the men’s 10,000m, finishing second in 28:29.38. Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew won gold in 28:27.51, while Albert Kipto took bronze in 28:34.18. The result marked an upgrade from Gulveer’s bronze in the same event at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The 10,000m silver also reflected his progression over four years. Gulveer had entered the 2026 Games after an impressive season that included major international medals and national records in distance running.
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026 Adds 1500m Silver
Gulveer then produced another medal in the 1500m, clocking a personal best of 3:36.72 to take silver. The result made the Indian runner one of the rare athletes to win medals across middle- and long-distance events at the same Asian Games.
His schedule, however, was far from easy. Gulveer ran four races across five days, including the 1500m heat, before completing his campaign in the 5000m final. Recovery became just as important as racing, with the Athletics Federation of India providing him with a dedicated physiotherapist.
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026 Hat-Trick Comes With 5000m Bronze
The final chapter arrived in the 5000m. Gulveer clocked 13:32.75 to finish third and complete his individual medal hat-trick. He had hoped to hear the Indian national anthem in Nagoya, but the bronze meant he finished the Games with two silvers and a bronze.
His achievement places him alongside some of India’s greatest Asian Games athletics performers. Lavy Pinto won three athletics medals at the 1951 Games, P.T. Usha won four in 1986, and K.M. Beenamol won three in 2002. Gulveer is now the second Indian man to achieve three athletics medals at one edition.
Gulveer Singh Asian Games 2026: Dal, Paneer and Faith
Away from the track, Gulveer’s routine has remained remarkably simple. He follows a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding both meat and eggs. His regular food includes chapati, dal and paneer, while he also uses supplements to maintain his protein intake. He said the same approach continued during his training in the United States.
Faith has also been an important part of his journey. Gulveer keeps a small statuette of Bajrang Bali in his room and said he prays to Hanuman for strength and protection. After receiving his latest medal, he appeared at the ceremony with a traditional tilak on his forehead.
“I’m going back with three medals. I’m very happy because I always wanted to give something back to India.”
Gulveer now wants to be more strategic with his racing, choosing events that can help him qualify for future World Championships and Olympic Games. His Asian Games campaign has shown that he can compete across distances; the next challenge will be deciding where that ability can take him.
