Gulveer Singh not satisfied despite historic CWG double: Wanted gold for India
Gulveer Singh scripted history with silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games. Yet the Indian distance runner says his Glasgow campaign remains incomplete because he wanted to hear the national anthem from the top step.
Gulveer Singh returned from Glasgow with two historic Commonwealth Games medals, but the 28-year-old walked away thinking about the one that got away. India's first-ever men's 10,000m medallist and first athlete to reach the Commonwealth podium in the 5,000m says silver and bronze have only strengthened his desire to chase gold.
Speaking to NNIS after winning bronze in the men's 5,000m on Saturday, August 1, Gulveer admitted that while he was proud of his achievements, his biggest dream remained unfulfilled.
Commonwealth Games 2026, August 1: Highlights
"I'm happy because I've won medals, but I'm not satisfied," Gulveer said. "I wanted to hear my country's national anthem. That's what I was aiming for. Now let's see what destiny has planned at the next major championships."
The Army man insisted the medals had not dulled his ambition.
"People say every athlete has a hunger. Mine hasn't gone away and I don't want it to. We don't stop at this level. We have to keep climbing and win bigger medals," he said.
Those words perhaps explain the mindset that has transformed Gulveer into India's leading distance runner. After breaking national records, becoming the first Asian to run a sub-13-minute indoor 5,000m and the first Indian to clock a sub-60-minute half marathon, he arrived in Glasgow carrying the country's hopes. He left having produced the finest Commonwealth Games campaign by an Indian distance runner.
NO FEAR OF AFRICA
If Gulveer's medals reflected his physical progress, his outlook revealed something equally significant.
Asked whether East African runners still appeared unbeatable after another week of competing against them, Gulveer rejected the idea outright.
"They are human, and so are we," he said. "The government is investing so much in us. We have coaches and all the facilities we need. Why can't we beat them? We can."
That belief was evident throughout the week. Gulveer became the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth medal in the 10,000m before backing it up with bronze in the 5,000m, where he held off Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi by just 0.04 seconds after another tactically disciplined race.
WHAT NEXT FOR GULVEER AFTER CWG DOUBLE?
For many athletes, two Commonwealth Games medals would be enough to define a career. Gulveer appears to see them differently.
He admitted that the plan in the 5,000m had been to leave his move until the closing stages, following his coach's instructions to stay patient rather than expend energy at the front of the field. The tactic earned him another podium finish, but not the result he ultimately wanted.
That ambition now shifts towards the next major championships, where Gulveer hopes to convert history-making podiums into the one medal he values above all others.
His Commonwealth Games campaign has already changed the way Indian distance running is viewed. Gulveer, however, believes the biggest statement is still waiting to be made — the day an Indian distance runner stands on top of the podium and listens to Jana Gana Mana play.
Gulveer Singh returned from Glasgow with two historic Commonwealth Games medals, but the 28-year-old walked away thinking about the one that got away. India's first-ever men's 10,000m medallist and first athlete to reach the Commonwealth podium in the 5,000m says silver and bronze have only strengthened his desire to chase gold.
Speaking to NNIS after winning bronze in the men's 5,000m on Saturday, August 1, Gulveer admitted that while he was proud of his achievements, his biggest dream remained unfulfilled.
Commonwealth Games 2026, August 1: Highlights
"I'm happy because I've won medals, but I'm not satisfied," Gulveer said. "I wanted to hear my country's national anthem. That's what I was aiming for. Now let's see what destiny has planned at the next major championships."
The Army man insisted the medals had not dulled his ambition.
"People say every athlete has a hunger. Mine hasn't gone away and I don't want it to. We don't stop at this level. We have to keep climbing and win bigger medals," he said.
Those words perhaps explain the mindset that has transformed Gulveer into India's leading distance runner. After breaking national records, becoming the first Asian to run a sub-13-minute indoor 5,000m and the first Indian to clock a sub-60-minute half marathon, he arrived in Glasgow carrying the country's hopes. He left having produced the finest Commonwealth Games campaign by an Indian distance runner.
NO FEAR OF AFRICA
If Gulveer's medals reflected his physical progress, his outlook revealed something equally significant.
Asked whether East African runners still appeared unbeatable after another week of competing against them, Gulveer rejected the idea outright.
"They are human, and so are we," he said. "The government is investing so much in us. We have coaches and all the facilities we need. Why can't we beat them? We can."
That belief was evident throughout the week. Gulveer became the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth medal in the 10,000m before backing it up with bronze in the 5,000m, where he held off Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi by just 0.04 seconds after another tactically disciplined race.
WHAT NEXT FOR GULVEER AFTER CWG DOUBLE?
For many athletes, two Commonwealth Games medals would be enough to define a career. Gulveer appears to see them differently.
He admitted that the plan in the 5,000m had been to leave his move until the closing stages, following his coach's instructions to stay patient rather than expend energy at the front of the field. The tactic earned him another podium finish, but not the result he ultimately wanted.
That ambition now shifts towards the next major championships, where Gulveer hopes to convert history-making podiums into the one medal he values above all others.
His Commonwealth Games campaign has already changed the way Indian distance running is viewed. Gulveer, however, believes the biggest statement is still waiting to be made — the day an Indian distance runner stands on top of the podium and listens to Jana Gana Mana play.
Gulveer Singh returned from Glasgow with two historic Commonwealth Games medals, but the 28-year-old walked away thinking about the one that got away. India's first-ever men's 10,000m medallist and first athlete to reach the Commonwealth podium in the 5,000m says silver and bronze have only strengthened his desire to chase gold.
Speaking to NNIS after winning bronze in the men's 5,000m on Saturday, August 1, Gulveer admitted that while he was proud of his achievements, his biggest dream remained unfulfilled.
Commonwealth Games 2026, August 1: Highlights
"I'm happy because I've won medals, but I'm not satisfied," Gulveer said. "I wanted to hear my country's national anthem. That's what I was aiming for. Now let's see what destiny has planned at the next major championships."
The Army man insisted the medals had not dulled his ambition.
"People say every athlete has a hunger. Mine hasn't gone away and I don't want it to. We don't stop at this level. We have to keep climbing and win bigger medals," he said.
Those words perhaps explain the mindset that has transformed Gulveer into India's leading distance runner. After breaking national records, becoming the first Asian to run a sub-13-minute indoor 5,000m and the first Indian to clock a sub-60-minute half marathon, he arrived in Glasgow carrying the country's hopes. He left having produced the finest Commonwealth Games campaign by an Indian distance runner.
NO FEAR OF AFRICA
If Gulveer's medals reflected his physical progress, his outlook revealed something equally significant.
Asked whether East African runners still appeared unbeatable after another week of competing against them, Gulveer rejected the idea outright.
"They are human, and so are we," he said. "The government is investing so much in us. We have coaches and all the facilities we need. Why can't we beat them? We can."
That belief was evident throughout the week. Gulveer became the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth medal in the 10,000m before backing it up with bronze in the 5,000m, where he held off Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi by just 0.04 seconds after another tactically disciplined race.
WHAT NEXT FOR GULVEER AFTER CWG DOUBLE?
For many athletes, two Commonwealth Games medals would be enough to define a career. Gulveer appears to see them differently.
He admitted that the plan in the 5,000m had been to leave his move until the closing stages, following his coach's instructions to stay patient rather than expend energy at the front of the field. The tactic earned him another podium finish, but not the result he ultimately wanted.
That ambition now shifts towards the next major championships, where Gulveer hopes to convert history-making podiums into the one medal he values above all others.
His Commonwealth Games campaign has already changed the way Indian distance running is viewed. Gulveer, however, believes the biggest statement is still waiting to be made — the day an Indian distance runner stands on top of the podium and listens to Jana Gana Mana play.
