Gulveer Singh Breaks National Record, Wins Bronze at New York City Half Marathon

Gulveer Singh delivered a historic performance at the NYC Half Marathon 2026, clinching bronze and rewriting India’s record books with a sensational run in New York City on Sunday, March 15.

The 27-year-old clocked 59:42 to finish third in a strong elite men’s field, becoming the first Indian male athlete to break the one-hour barrier in the half marathon.

Gulveer’s performance was historic not just for the podium finish but also for the national record he shattered. He bettered the previous Indian men’s half-marathon mark of 1:00:30 set by Avinash Sable at the Delhi Half Marathon in 2020.

By slashing 48 seconds off that record, Gulveer produced one of the most remarkable road-racing performances by an Indian distance runner. The race itself was fiercely competitive. Adriaan Wildschutt claimed the men’s title in 59:30, while Moroccan-born American Zouhair Talbi finished second in 59:41.

Gulveer crossed the line just one second behind Talbi, underlining how closely he contested the race against a world-class field. Notably, the event also marked Gulveer’s professional half-marathon debut, making the achievement even more impressive.

Gulveer eyes bigger targets

Following his breakthrough performance in New York, Gulveer has set his sights on podium finishes at the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026 in July and the Asian Games 2026 in September.

The Indian Army runner is currently training in Colorado Springs.

“I’m fit and looking forward to good results in upcoming major international races,” Gulveer said.

Over the past few years, Gulveer has emerged as one of the leading figures in Indian distance running. He has become the first athlete from the country to hold multiple national records across events ranging from the 3,000m on the track to the 25km road race.

A bronze medallist in the 10,000m at the Asian Games 2022, Gulveer also holds the Indian records in the men’s 5,000m and 10,000m.

He enjoyed another successful outing at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, where he clinched gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, and will now aim to carry that form into the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year.