Gulveer Singh: He Started Running for the Army. How Did He Become India’s Distance Star?
There is something unusual about Gulveer Singh’s story. He did not initially take up running with the dream of becoming an international athlete. He started running while preparing to join the Army.
Years later, that decision has taken him from western Uttar Pradesh to international tracks, national records, Commonwealth Games podiums and three individual medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Yet, even after that historic campaign, Gulveer was not satisfied.
Gulveer Singh: What Was He Running For?
Born on June 1, 1998, in western Uttar Pradesh, Gulveer Singh grew up in a farming family. Running initially became part of his preparation for Army recruitment.
“I was preparing for recruitment. I did not have much knowledge about athletics. Then I joined the Army, and after joining the Army, things developed from there,” Gulveer said after the Asian Games.
He joined the Army in 2018 through the sports quota, and his development eventually took him towards specialised athletics training, including at the Army Sports Institute in Pune.
What began as a route into the Army gradually became his sporting career.
Gulveer Singh’s Rise to Record Holder
Gulveer’s transformation into a top distance runner was gradual. He developed into a specialist in the 5,000m and 10,000m, while also showing the speed to compete over shorter distances.
In 2025, he broke the 13-minute barrier in the indoor 5,000m, clocking 12:59.77 in Boston. He later set a national 10,000m record of 27:00.22 in California.
At the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, Gulveer won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, confirming his rise among India’s leading distance runners.
Gulveer Singh and the Colorado Springs Chapter
A major part of Gulveer Singh’s development came through his training base in Colorado Springs, USA, where he worked with American coach Scott Simmons.
The altitude-based training and international preparation became an important part of his programme. Gulveer has also credited the Athletics Federation of India for supporting his training.
After the 2026 Commonwealth Games, he returned to Colorado Springs to continue working with Simmons.
“AFI has supported me a lot,” Gulveer said after his Asian Games campaign.
Gulveer Singh’s 2026: From Glasgow to Nagoya
Before the Asian Games, Gulveer Singh had already enjoyed a historic Commonwealth Games campaign.
He won silver in the men’s 10,000m with 27:49.78, behind Australia’s Ky Robinson, who clocked 27:48.93. David Mullarkey took bronze in 27:50.28.
The result made Gulveer the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 10,000m. He then added a 5,000m bronze in 13:24.95.
But he wanted more.
“I’m happy because I’ve won medals, but I’m not satisfied. I wanted to hear my country’s national anthem,” he said.
Gulveer Singh at Asian Games 2026: Three Races, Three Medals
At the 2026 Asian Games, Gulveer entered the 10,000m, 1,500m and 5,000m.
He returned with medals in all three.
Gulveer Singh Wins 10,000m Silver
Gulveer opened his Asian Games campaign with silver in the 10,000m, clocking 28:29.38.
Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew won gold in 28:27.51, while Albert Kiptoo took bronze in 28:34.38.
The result gave Gulveer his second consecutive Asian Games medal in the 10,000m, following his bronze from the previous edition.
“It feels good to win a silver medal for India at the Asian Games,” he said.
Gulveer Singh Takes 1,500m Silver
Then came an unexpected result.
Primarily known as a 5,000m and 10,000m runner, Gulveer produced a personal best of 3:36.72 to win silver in the 1,500m.
Japan’s Kazuto Iizawa won gold in a Games-record 3:36.35, while Nagiya Mori took bronze in 3:37.92.
The performance highlighted Gulveer’s versatility and showed that his speed could be just as valuable as his endurance.
Gulveer Singh Completes the Medal Hat-Trick
Gulveer’s final challenge was the 5,000m, where he clocked 13:32.75 for bronze.
Birhanu Balew won gold in 13:30.79, while Japan’s Tomonori Yamaguchi took silver in 13:31.43.
Gulveer’s Asian Games medal haul was complete:
10,000m — Silver | 1,500m — Silver | 5,000m — Bronze
The three medals made him the first Indian in 40 years to win three individual athletics medals at one Asian Games, following P.T. Usha’s 1986 campaign.
Three Medals, Yet Gulveer Singh Was Not Satisfied
Despite making history, Gulveer Singh admitted that the campaign had not met his original target.
“I am not satisfied because I had come here thinking that my National Anthem would be played,” he said.
For Gulveer, the three medals were not the conclusion of the journey. They were another step towards the gold he wanted.
“What happened today is over, so leave it. Now we will think about what to do next,” he said.
Gulveer Singh: The Numbers Behind the Journey
5,000m: 12:59.77 — national record and Asian short-track record
10,000m: 27:00.22 — national record
3,000m: 7:34.49 — national record
2025 Asian Championships: Gold in 5,000m and 10,000m
2026 Commonwealth Games: Silver in 10,000m, bronze in 5,000m
2026 Asian Games: Silver in 10,000m, silver in 1,500m, bronze in 5,000m
The numbers tell only part of the story. The bigger achievement is the range Gulveer has developed across different distances.
The athlete who once ran to prepare for Army recruitment has become a record holder and one of India’s most versatile distance runners.
What Is Next for Gulveer Singh?
The next challenge for Gulveer Singh is not simply winning another medal. It is converting his podium finishes into gold at the biggest international championships.
His journey has already changed dramatically: the boy preparing to join the Army became a soldier, the soldier became a runner, and the runner became a record holder.
Now, Gulveer is chasing the one achievement his collection still lacks ,jstanding on the top step while India’s national anthem plays.
