India’s distance runners gained valuable exposure at the World Cross Country Championships as Gulveer Singh led the men’s challenge with a 40th-place finish, while the Indian mixed relay quartet secured a respectable 12th place in a fiercely contested field.
Though the results may not headline the podium, they offered important context on where Indian endurance running currently stands against the world’s best. Double Asian track champion Gulveer Singh clocked 30:39 to finish 40th in the senior men’s race. Given his recent rise on the track and his reputation as one of India’s most consistent long-distance performers, Gulveer would have hoped for a slightly higher placing. However, the World Cross Country Championships represent a very different test: uneven terrain, relentless pace changes, and tactical racing that often favors athletes accustomed to the European and African cross-country circuit.
In that context, Gulveer’s run was solid if unspectacular. He stayed competitive through the early phases, avoided major fade, and finished strongly enough to remain within the top 40 in a deep field stacked with Olympic medallists and world champions. For an athlete whose strengths have largely been honed on the track, the performance reinforced both his adaptability and the gap that still exists between Asian champions and the global elite in cross-country racing.
Sawan Barwal, competing in his first major international championship, delivered a creditable performance to finish 60th in 31:37. Barwal’s race was one of patience rather than aggression, as he focused on maintaining rhythm and managing the demanding course. For a debut at this level, finishing inside the top 60 was a positive outcome and a useful learning experience. Cross country at the world level is often unforgiving to newcomers, and Barwal’s ability to complete the race strongly bodes well for his development in future international outings.
Abhishek Pal rounded off India’s men’s contingent with an 85th-place finish in 33:01. While the placing reflects the steep competition curve at this level, Pal’s participation added to India’s growing pool of athletes gaining exposure beyond the Asian circuit. Such experiences remain crucial as Indian distance running seeks to build depth rather than rely on a handful of standout names.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
Alongside the individual races, India’s mixed relay team produced one of the more encouraging results of the championships, finishing 12th overall with a time of 24:13. The quartet of Ajay Kumar Saroj, Pooja Olla, Yoonus Shah, and Ankita Dhyani delivered a well-structured race that showcased teamwork and composure under pressure.
Saroj led off the relay and completed his leg in 5:45, placing India 14th after the opening exchange. Pooja Olla then moved the team up to 13th, running a steady second leg in 6:37. Yoonus Shah provided the biggest positional boost, pulling India into 12th with a strong third leg of 5:29, before Ankita Dhyani anchored the team with a composed 6:22 to hold that position to the finish.
India’s final placing put them ahead of several established athletics nations, underlining the promise of the mixed relay format for countries still developing individual depth. While the gap to the top teams dominated by traditional cross-country powerhouses—remains significant, the relay offered a glimpse of how strategic pacing and collective execution can narrow margins.
From a broader perspective, India’s results at the World Cross Country Championships highlighted both progress and reality. On one hand, athletes like Gulveer Singh continue to demonstrate that Indian runners can compete credibly on the world stage, even in disciplines that are not traditionally India’s strength. On the other, the championships reaffirmed the structural challenges facing Indian distance running limited exposure to high-level cross-country racing, fewer competitive domestic circuits, and the need for sustained international competition.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
For the athletes involved, the championship served as a valuable benchmark. Gulveer’s 40th-place finish provides a reference point as he balances track ambitions with endurance development. Barwal’s debut offers confidence that he can build toward higher-level performances, while the mixed relay’s 12th-place finish suggests a format where India can be competitive with targeted preparation.
As Indian athletics looks ahead to future world events and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, performances like these, while not medal-winning, remain essential building blocks. The experience gained in testing conditions against the world’s best may yet prove decisive in shaping the next phase of India’s long-distance running journey.
