Gulveer Singh Makes History with Silver in Men's 10,000m at Commonwealth Games

Gulveer Singh's Historic Achievement

Gulveer Singh has etched his name in history as the first Indian to secure a medal in the men's 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games, showcasing an impressive performance on a rain-drenched track to earn a silver medal.

This achievement marks India's second silver in athletics at the Games, following Sarvesh Kushare's success in the men's high jump.

Gulveer clocked a time of 27:49.78 seconds, finishing just behind Australia's Ky Robinson, who took gold with a time of 27:48.93 seconds on Tuesday.

Competing under challenging conditions at Scotstoun Stadium, the 28-year-old maintained his position with the leading runners before delivering a remarkable finish in the final laps.

"Winning a medal always feels great. The race went well despite the rain; when you achieve a medal, the weather becomes irrelevant," said the reigning Asian champion.

"I left everything to God. Before the race, I asked the almighty to watch over me," he added.

The humble Army personnel from Atrauli, Uttar Pradesh, chuckled when asked about informing his family of his achievement, admitting he hadn't yet shared the news.

"My family is probably asleep. I don’t tell them on race days; I’ll inform them tomorrow. I don’t want to disturb them; they can watch later. Right now, my focus is on the 5k run. I hope the almighty continues to be kind to me," he mentioned.

Training under Scott Simmons in the United States, Gulveer executed a nearly flawless tactical race against a strong field that included several African competitors, such as Kenya's Daniel Ebenyo, a 2023 World Championships medallist with a personal best of 26:57.80.

Despite the relentless rain, he kept pace with the leaders and surged into medal contention in the final moments, delivering a powerful kick to surpass Isle of Man's David Mullarkey for silver, who finished with a time of 27:50.28 seconds.

Gulveer's silver medal signifies the first instance since the 1986 Commonwealth Games that no African athlete stood on the podium in the men's 10,000m event.

This achievement echoes Avinash Sable's groundbreaking silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 Birmingham Games, where he ended Kenya's long-standing dominance.

Disappointment for Pooja Singh

In contrast, there was disappointment for Pooja Singh in the women's high jump, where the Asian champion was unable to clear 1.82m.

Making her Commonwealth Games debut, the 19-year-old faced interruptions due to heavy rain before the competition resumed. Unfortunately, she could not clear the bar in her third and final attempt at 1.82m, concluding her campaign.