Indian Distance Running Gets Olympic Boost After Asian Games Success
India’s distance runners delivered a breakthrough Asian Games campaign, with Gulveer Singh, Sawan Barwal and Seema Kumari putting Olympic qualification firmly in focus.
India’s distance runners delivered one of the standout stories of the 2026 Asian Games, with Gulveer Singh, Sawan Barwal and Seema Kumari putting the country’s long-distance programme firmly in the spotlight.
Gulveer won three medals in five days, taking silver in the 10,000m and 1,500m and bronze in the 5,000m. Sawan Barwal added a silver in the marathon with a national record of 2:11:37, ending India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games marathon medal. Seema Kumari won bronze in the women’s 10,000m.
All three have trained under American coach Scott Simmons at a high-altitude base in Colorado Springs. Simmons believes sustained training, overseas exposure and consistency have helped Indian athletes make the jump to international competition.
Gulveer’s campaign was particularly notable after he competed across four races in five days. Barwal’s marathon performance also highlighted the impact of training alongside experienced international runners.
The results have now shifted attention towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Simmons believes the athletes have begun to see Olympic qualification as a realistic target, while also stressing the need to develop younger runners for the future.
India’s distance-running programme spent years waiting for its breakthrough. Now, the stopwatch has apparently decided it’s time to stop being dramatic.
