New Delhi: India’s long-distance runner Gulveer Singh improved on his previous Asian Games bronze by securing silver in the men’s 10,000m, clocking 28:29.38 on Friday, September 25. Manpreet Kaur also made it to the podium, claiming bronze in the women’s shot put with a best throw of 17.17m.
Gulveer won a bronze medal at the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, and finished second in the 2026 edition behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who clinched the gold medal in 28:27.51 minutes. Bahrain’s Albert Kipto won bronze with a time of 28:34.18 minutes.
The Asian Games silver further adds to Gulveer’s collection this year after his second-place finish at the . He had claimed silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 28-year-old, who is serving as Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, has been in brilliant form over the last two years, clinching gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
Gulveer also holds national records in the 5,000m, 10,000m, one mile and half marathon. He became the first Indian to run a sub-four-minute mile, clocking. In 2025, he became the first Indian to run a mile in under four minutes, clocking 3:55.63. Gulveer also became the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under an hour, finishing in 59:42.
He also made history by becoming the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier in the indoor 5,000m, posting a time of 12:59.77. Gulveer has been training in Colorado Springs, United States, as part of his preparation for major international competitions.
Manpreet claims bronze in women’s shot put
India’s Manpreet Kaur secured the bronze medal in the women’s shot put competition of the Asian Games 2026 with an effort of 17.17m on Friday. China’s Song Jiayuan (19.40m) clinched gold and Zhang Linru (18.14m) won silver,
The 36-year-old Manpreet’s last major international performance before the Asian Games was a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Championships. Her personal best of 18.06m came in 2022. She finished in fifth place at the 2023 Asian Games and was fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with an effort of 17.49m.
Earlier this year, she clinched the National Inter-State Championships with 17.75m, breaking the Asian Games qualification standard of 16.25m. Manpreet was part of the Indian athletics contingent that was training at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo before the start of the Asian Games.