India celebrated a landmark moment in athletics as Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh of the Indian Army delivered a record-breaking performance at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships. Held at Gumi Stadium from May 27 to 31, the championship featured athletes from 43 countries, making it the largest edition to date.
Gulveer Singh struck gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m events. He clocked 28:38.64 in the 10,000m before setting a new Asian record in the 5,000m with a stunning time of 13:24.78, surpassing the previous mark of 13:29.53 set by Bahrain’s Albert Rop in 2015. His latest feat adds to a remarkable 2025 season, which began with a historic run in the United States where he became the first Asian to break the 13-minute barrier in a short-track 5,000m, recording 12:59.77.
Trained under the Indian Army’s Mission Olympics Wing, Gulveer’s preparation included high-altitude training in Ooty and advanced coaching sessions in Colorado Springs. His success reflects the Army’s sustained investment in grooming elite athletes.
The championships also saw impressive performances from other Indian Army athletes including Subedar Avinash Sable and Recruit Naib Subedar Rupal Chaudhary, contributing to India’s strong medal tally. The Mission Olympics Wing currently supports over 450 athletes across 11 disciplines, reinforcing India’s aspirations on the global sports stage.
Gulveer Singh’s dual triumph not only cements his place in Asian athletics history but also signals a new era for Indian distance running, driven by discipline, scientific training, and institutional support.
