Gulveer Singh wins third Asian Games athletics medal in five days

India’s Gulveer Singh completed a three-medal athletics haul at the Asian Games on Tuesday by winning bronze in the men’s 5,000 metres. The result followed silver medals in the 1,500m and 10,000m and made Gulveer only the second Indian man, and the fourth Indian overall, to win three athletics medals at a single edition of the Asian Games. Gulveer said his performance had come despite a demanding schedule.

He ran four races in five days, including the 1,500m heat, and said the campaign had been exhausting. He credited endurance training, massages, stretching and the support of a dedicated physiotherapist provided by the Athletics Federation of India. The runner said he follows a strictly vegetarian diet and does not eat eggs.

His regular food includes chapati, dal and paneer, which he said provided sufficient protein alongside supplements available at his hotel. Gulveer also spoke about the mental strength he draws from faith. He keeps a small statuette of Bajrang Bali, or Hanuman, in his room and said he prayed for protection during the competition.

He described his experience at the previous Asian Games as very different. In 2022, he said, he was nervous because the scale of the event was new to him. Training alongside Olympic and championship medallists has since strengthened his belief that he can compete at the highest level.

Gulveer now plans to focus on qualifying for the world championships and Olympics. He said he would need to choose carefully which distances to contest in future. His three medals place him alongside Indian athletics figures including Lavy Pinto, P.T.

Usha and K.M. Beenamol, who also won three medals at individual Asian Games editions.