India’s distance runners win four Asian Games medals after sustained overseas training
India’s distance runners won four medals at the 2026 Asian Games, with Gulveer Singh taking three and Sawan Barwal adding a marathon silver. Coach Scott Simmons attributed the results to consistent training, government support and extended preparation at high altitude in Colorado Springs.
India’s distance runners produced four medals at the 2026 Asian Games, a performance coach Scott Simmons linked to sustained preparation and support. Gulveer Singh won silver in the 10,000 metres and 1,500 metres and bronze in the 5,000 metres. Sawan Barwal added silver in the men’s marathon with a national-record time of 2:11:37, while Seema Kumari won bronze in the women’s 10,000 metres.
The results came across events requiring different combinations of speed and endurance. Simmons said the athletes benefited from training together in a high-altitude environment in Colorado Springs, United States. He said he had viewed Indian distance running as a “sleeping giant” when he arrived in Bengaluru in 2022.
In his assessment, talent existed but needed time, support and consistency to produce results. Gulveer spent six continuous months in the United States before the Asian Games. The period allowed him to train consistently and compete alongside athletes operating at a high international level.
Simmons said the plan focused primarily on the 10,000 metres, with the preparation also supporting Gulveer’s performances in shorter events. Gulveer raced four times in five days. His three medals represented an advance from his bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2022 Asian Games and followed medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Barwal’s marathon silver ended India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games marathon medal. Simmons said the runner was relatively new to the event and developed by training alongside established marathoners in Colorado Springs. Seema’s bronze was India’s first Asian Games medal in the women’s 10,000 metres since 2010.
Simmons said the group environment was intended to help athletes learn from and improve alongside one another. He attributed the progress to support from the Indian government, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, the Athletics Federation of India and other stakeholders, as well as extended overseas training.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.