Indian long-distance running will witness a significant moment on August 12, when Gulveer Singh lines up for his first-ever track race in Europe.
The 26-year-old, fresh from a golden double at the Asian Athletics Championships, will compete in the men’s 3000m at the Gyulai István Memorial Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, a prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour Gold (Category A) meet. For Gulveer, this isn’t just another race it’s a crucial test against some of the world’s fastest distance runners, a stepping stone toward greater ambitions on the global stage, and a chance to prove that his dominance in Asia can translate to top-tier performances in Europe.
The Gyulai István Memorial A Global Stage
The Gyulai István Memorial is one of the most respected meetings on the international athletics circuit. Named after the late István Gyulai, a towering figure in athletics administration, the event has been running since 2011 and regularly attracts reigning Olympic champions, world record holders, and Diamond League regulars.
For the 2025 edition, the event returns to Budapest’s National Athletics Centre, the same venue that hosted the 2023 World Championships. The Continental Tour Gold status means the race will feature an elite field and offer valuable world ranking points. For Gulveer, it’s an ideal environment to measure himself against the very best.
Gulveer Singh – Asia’s Distance Running Force
Gulveer Singh has had a remarkable rise in the last two years. Born on June 1, 1998, in Atrauli, Uttar Pradesh, he serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army with the 23 Grenadiers. His discipline and endurance, honed both in military service and on the track, have made him a standout figure in Indian athletics.
His record-breaking season in 2025 has been nothing short of historic. At the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, he won gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m. His 10,000m winning time of 28:38.63 made him only the third Indian to win the title at the Asian Championships, while his 5,000m victory came with a championship record of 13:24.77.
These victories were not isolated feats. Singh currently holds multiple Indian national records:
•10,000m – 27:00.22 (2025)
•5,000m Outdoor – 13:11.82 (2024)
•5,000m Indoor – 12:59.77 (2025, also an Asian record)
•3,000m Indoor – 7:38.26 (2025)
The 12:59 indoor 5,000m in particular was a landmark it made him the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier indoors and secured his qualification for the World Championships in the 5,000m.
Training for the Big Stage
One of the keys to Gulveer’s rapid improvement has been his high-altitude training base in Colorado Springs, USA. Under coach Yunus Khan, Singh trains alongside elite athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco. These sessions are designed not only to build endurance but also to sharpen finishing speed a vital asset in championship racing where the final kilometer often decides the medals.
Gulveer Singh: From Village Tracks to Asia’s Long-Distance Throne
His coach notes that training with such high-calibre partners has raised both Gulveer’s physical standards and mental resilience. The Gyulai István Memorial offers the perfect platform to put that preparation into practice against a deep, competitive field.
The Men’s 3000m in Budapest Race Expectations
Gulveer’s event in Budapest will be the men’s 3000m, scheduled for 18:45 CEST ( 10:15pm IST ) on August 12. While the 3,000m is not a World Championships distance, it’s a classic test of speed endurance fast enough to require middle-distance sharpness, but long enough to demand the aerobic strength of a 5,000m or 10,000m runner.
Among his opponents will be Stewart McSweyn of Australia, Oceania record holder with a personal best of 7:28.02. The meeting record stands at 7:30.96, set by Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris in 2021. Gulveer’s 7:38.26 indoor PB suggests he can be competitive if the race goes out at a strong pace. Racing in such a field will push Gulveer to make tactical decisions quickly whether to latch on to the lead pack early, conserve energy in the middle stages, or rely on his improved finishing kick in the final lap.
Why This Race Matters for Gulveer’s Career
While his reputation in Asia is already well-established, Gulveer’s European debut is about proving himself in a different arena. The dynamics of racing in Europe are different:
- Deeper fields mean that even mid-pack runners can produce world-class times.
- Faster early pace demands mental readiness to hurt from the first lap.
- Race craft becomes crucial knowing when to cover surges, when to wait, and when to commit to the sprint.
A strong showing here could set the tone for the rest of his season, which includes potential Diamond League appearances after the Tokyo World Championships. It could also boost his world ranking points, a useful currency in securing entries to top-tier events in the future.
The Indian Perspective – Beyond Regional Success
For Indian athletics, Gulveer’s participation in Budapest represents a broader ambition. Long-distance track events have rarely been India’s strength on the global stage. While Neeraj Chopra’s javelin success has transformed perceptions of Indian field events, track endurance events still lack regular global finalists.
Gulveer’s trajectory national records, continental titles, and now entry into elite European racing is a blueprint for change. If he can consistently compete against world-class opposition, it could inspire more Indian distance runners to aim beyond regional competitions and prepare systematically for global success.
Budapest will not be easy. Singh must adapt to a new environment, cope with the travel demands of a long season, and maintain his form against opponents who have been racing in Europe all summer. The psychological adjustment to being away from home for months is another factor. But his Army background, rigorous training, and exposure to high-pressure scenarios suggest he is well-equipped to handle these challenges.
The conditions in Budapest are expected to be favourable for fast racing, with a cool evening temperature and a track known for producing quick times. The key will be execution getting into the right rhythm early and having the composure to unleash his best in the closing stages. This race is also a stepping stone towards his dual goals at the World Championships in Tokyo the 5,000m, for which he’s already qualified, and the 10,000m, for which he’s chasing a spot via the Road to Tokyo rankings. Every high-category meet result helps his ranking, and a performance in Budapest could be decisive in strengthening his case.
A possible Jacob Kiplimo’s Withdrawal ?
In a development that could indirectly benefit Gulveer, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo the half marathon world record holder and eighth-place finisher in the 10,000m at the Paris Olympics has reportedly opted not to run the 10,000m at the Tokyo World Championships. Instead, he will race the Buenos Aires Half Marathon on August 23 as part of his move towards road racing. With Kiplimo’s absence, the rankings shift slightly, and Gulveer, currently just outside the qualifying zone, could find himself one step closer to a second event in Tokyo.
In Budapest, however, the focus will be on the here and now a debut on European soil, a chance to test himself against some of the world’s best, and an opportunity to plant the Indian flag firmly in the midst of a truly world-class field.
