Gulveer Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to secure a medal in the men’s 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games. Competing in Glasgow, Singh earned a silver medal on Tuesday, marking a significant achievement for Indian athletics.
Singh, a national record holder, completed the race in 27:49.78, finishing second to Australia’s Ky Robinson, who claimed the gold medal. David Mullarkey of the Isle of Man secured the bronze. Notably, traditional distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Uganda did not feature among the medal winners in this event.
Race Strategy and Performance
The race unfolded in challenging, rain-soaked conditions at Scotstoun Stadium. Despite the weather, Singh maintained a composed and tactical approach throughout the 25-lap contest. He remained within the leading group for a significant portion of the race, conserving energy while closely monitoring the frontrunners.
With one lap remaining, Singh was positioned in third place. He then executed a powerful burst of speed in the closing stages, propelling him into second place and securing the historic silver medal. This strong finish was a key factor in his success, moving him from fourth to second position in the final lap.
Singh’s performance ended a long wait for India in the men’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games, as no Indian athlete had previously won a medal in this event. His silver medal is considered one of India’s greatest achievements in Commonwealth Games distance running.
Earlier in the race, Singh’s splits showed his strategic pacing. He was third after the first 2,000m, completing it in 5.49s. At the 5,000m mark, he was in sixth position, clocking 14.16.1s. He moved up to fifth after 7,000m and was in fourth after 9,000m, setting the stage for his final push.
India’s Medal Tally
Singh’s silver medal contributes to India’s growing medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Other Indian medallists include:
- Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting)
- Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women’s shot put F57)
- Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting)
- Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting)
- Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting)
- Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men’s high jump)
- Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting)
- Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting)
- Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting)
- Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women’s shot put F57)
- Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting)
In other events, Harjinder Kaur secured a silver medal in the women’s 69kg weightlifting event. She lifted a personal-best total of 227kg, with 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk. Canada’s Charlotte Simoneau won gold with a total of 240kg.
Additionally, three Indian boxers, Jadumani Singh, Preeti, and Priya, have been assured of medals after reaching the semifinals. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam won his men’s 55kg quarterfinal bout against Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale with a 4-1 decision. However, Kapil Pokhariya lost his men’s 90kg quarterfinal bout to Robert McNulty by unanimous decision.
In swimming, Srihari Nataraj’s campaign in the men’s 100m backstroke ended in the heats, where he finished 12th overall with a time of 55.52 seconds. The women’s high jump final, featuring Pooja Singh, was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain, and Pooja Singh did not manage to clear 1.82m in her attempts.
Singh’s silver medal on Tuesday marks a significant moment for India in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter