When the men’s 10,000m final unfolds at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, the spotlight will inevitably fall on names like Berihu Aregawi, Grant Fisher, and Selemon Barega established giants of distance running. Yet, for Indian athletics, the moment belongs to one man: Gulveer Singh, the national record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
For the 27-year-old army man from Uttar Pradesh, this is more than a race. It is the culmination of a season that has already rewritten Indian distance running history. Though he may not line up as a favorite, Gulveer enters Tokyo as the quintessential dark horse contender, an athlete who has bridged the gap from national hopeful to international relevance in just a single year.
Until recently, Indian men’s distance running had been largely absent from the world stage. The last time India had representation in the 10,000m at a World Championship was in 2009, when Surendra Kumar, who would later coach Gulveer, clocked 28:35.51 to finish 19th. Sixteen years later, it is his protégé who carries the baton, arriving in Tokyo with credentials unimaginable for an Indian athlete a decade ago.
In March 2025, at the Sound Running Track Fest in California, Gulveer shattered his own 10,000m national record with a time of 27:00.22. It was a breathtaking run, slicing nearly 15 seconds off his previous mark (27:14.88) and bringing him within a whisker of the automatic qualifying standard of 27:00.00 for the World Championships. Though he missed by just 0.22 seconds, his performance secured qualification through ranking, and more importantly, established him as the third-fastest Asian ever over the distance.
This staggering improvement dropping more than 40 seconds over the past year transformed Gulveer from a continental runner into an athlete capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best.
A Record-Breaking Season for Gulveer Singh
If Tokyo represents the stage, then 2025 has been the season of preparation and Gulveer has delivered relentlessly.
Feb 14, Boston he broke the indoor 3000m national record with 7:38.26. then on Feb 21, Boston he ran 12:59.77 in the indoor 5000m, smashing the Indian record and setting an Asian indoor best followed by the race on Mar 29, California where he clocked 27:00.22 in the 10,000m, another national record, narrowly missing the automatic Worlds standard.
Aug 12, Budapest At the Gyulai István Memorial, he obliterated his own 3000m outdoor record with 7:34.49, finishing 5th in a stacked field.
Across just six months, Gulveer set four national records in the outdoor 10,000m, outdoor 5,000m (13:11.82), indoor 5,000m, and both indoor and outdoor 3000m. These times place him not just at the top of Indian charts but also in the upper echelons of the Asian all-time lists.
Add to that his Asian Championships gold medal earlier in the year and his Diamond League debut, and 2025 has been nothing short of transformative.
The men’s 10,000m in Tokyo is one of the most stacked lineups in championship history.
Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia) World No. 1, Olympic silver medallist, personal best of 26:31.13, and current season best of 26:43.84. The clear statistical favorite. Grant Fisher (USA) American record holder with 26:33.84. Known for consistency and big-race composure.
Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) Olympic champion in Tokyo 2020, personal best of 26:34.93, and a master tactician with proven championship pedigree. Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) Multiple World Indoor titles, PB of 26:31.01, a lethal kick finisher. Nico Young & Graham Blanks (USA) The new faces of American distance running, both with sub-27 times. Jimmy Gressier (France) National record holder, 26:58.67, with strong European credentials.
For Gulveer, with a personal best of 27:00.22, the numbers place him outside the podium circle. His World Ranking of 28 highlights his underdog status. Yet, championships are not just about personal bests; they are about tactics, resilience, and seizing opportunity when the field falters.
What a “Win” Looks Like for Gulveer
For most fans, victory is defined in medals. For Gulveer Singh, “victory” in Tokyo may carry a different meaning:
Breaking the 27-minute barrier, becoming the first Indian and one of very few Asians to do so would cement his status globally. It would be as symbolic as it is historic, redefining what is possible for Indian distance running.
Staying with the lead pack, the field is expected to go out at blistering pace, potentially aiming for a mid-26:40s finish. Gulveer’s task will be to hang on with the leaders as long as possible, testing himself against championship pressure. Top 10 Finish, in a field this stacked, even finishing in the top 10 would be a landmark achievement for India.
Training and Preparation
Gulveer has prepared for this moment with altitude training in Colorado, a hub for many of the world’s elite distance runners. Sessions like 5K/3K/1600m/800m repeats with short recoveries have honed both his endurance and finishing speed. His progression across distances from indoor 3000m to outdoor 10,000m shows the versatility and range required to handle the tactical swings of a championship race. Importantly, Gulveer enters Tokyo healthy, fit, and confident. Unlike many Indian athletes who peak only at continental meets, he has shown he can handle global competition by running personal bests in Diamond League and World Athletics Continental Gold meets.
India’s presence in long-distance running has been minimal on the world stage. Names like Milkha Singh and PT Usha defined India’s track identity, but distance events remained a void. With his qualification, Gulveer joins an exclusive club only the second Indian ever to run the men’s 10,000m at the World Championships, following his coach Surendra Kumar in 2009.
A strong run in Tokyo could inspire the next generation of Indian athletes to dream beyond the national and Asian stage. His rise is not just about medals but about breaking barriers for Indian athletics.
The final is likely to split into two scenarios:
- Fast, even-paced race: Initiated by Aregawi and the Ethiopians to burn off kickers like Barega. This could produce times in the 26:40s. Gulveer’s challenge will be to hold that rhythm without fading late.
- Tactical, slow-burn race: Built around a big final kick. This scenario could be less favorable to Gulveer, who relies more on rhythm running than explosive speed.
Either way, his aim will be to maximize his efficiency, latch onto a group, and keep composure. For Gulveer Singh, the Tokyo 2025 final is not just about where he finishes, but how he runs. A sub-27 minute clocking, a top-10 finish, or even simply competing shoulder-to-shoulder with legends like Aregawi and Barega would mark a breakthrough moment. India has waited decades for a distance runner to be spoken of in the same breath as the world’s elite. Gulveer Singh, with his season of shattered records and relentless ambition, has already shown he belongs.
Tokyo is his chance to prove it to the world.
Prediction: The medals may be beyond reach, but watch out for Gulveer Singh to run the race of his life and perhaps cross into territory no Indian has before.
