Gulveer Singh completed the hat-trick, unaware of PT Usha’s record which he was emulating
India’s Gulveer Singh completed a remarkable individual medal hat-trick at the 2026 Asian Games by claiming bronze in the men’s 5000m in Nagoya on Tuesday. His third podium finish made him the first Indian since PT Usha in 1986 to win three individual athletics medals at a single edition of the Asian Games.
Gulveer clocked 13:32.75 to finish third, adding a bronze to the silver medals he already won in the men’s 10,000m and 1,500m. Speaking after the 5,000m, Gulveer said he was unaware of the historic significance of his feat and admitted he had hoped to hear the Indian national anthem in Nagoya.
Asian Games, September 29 update
“I didn’t know because I didn’t understand it all. I started running in 2021. I wasn’t even born when she won 4 medals.”
“I don’t regret anything. But I came here expecting to hear the national anthem here. That didn’t happen. But next time for sure.”
Gulveer’s success puts him in the same conversation as Usha’s extraordinary campaign in 1986. At the Asian Games in Seoul, Usha won four individual medals, taking gold in the 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles and silver in the 100m. Her 4x400m relay gold is excluded from this comparison as it was a team medal.
THREE MEDALS, THREE EVENTS
Gulveer’s Asian Games campaign began with a silver in the men’s 10,000mwhere he clocked 28:29.38, bettering the bronze he won in the same event at the Hangzhou 2022 Games. He then set a personal best of 3:36.72 to take silver in the 1500m before completing his hat-trick with bronze in the 5000m.
His three medals add to an already remarkable year in 2026. At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Gulveer won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in track events at a single Commonwealth Games.
A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR
Gulveer entered the Asian Games as a two-time Asian champion by winning gold in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi. He also holds the Indian national records for 5000m and 10000m with marks of 12:59.77 and 27:00.22.
His development was also supported by extended training in Colorado Springs with Scott Simmons. Gulveer said the Athletics Federation of India supported his decision to return to the United States for training after the Commonwealth Games.
“I trained in good weather conditions. But it wasn’t great here. AFI supported me a lot. I trained in Colorado Springs, USA with Scott Simmons for six months. I thought I would train in India after CWG. But, I was told by AFI to train there to come back to USA.”
VITHYA COMPLETES THREE MEDALS
Gulveer’s feat was followed by another haul of three medals from Vithya Ramraj in Nagoya. Vithya added gold in the women’s 4x400m relay she won silver in the 4×400 medley relay and bronze in the 400 m individual hurdles, where she beat PT Usha’s national record of 55.42 seconds with a time of 54.75 seconds.
Unlike Gulveer’s three individual medals, Vithya’s haul includes two team medals. Her success continues to underline her impact at the Asian Games, with a bronze in the 400m hurdles also ending Usha’s long-standing national record in the event.
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