Bengaluru

Indian long-distance star Gulveer Singh is set to headline the domestic elite lineup at the 18th edition of the World 10K Bengaluru, scheduled for April 26.

Recognised as a World Athletics Gold Label race, the event draws top international runners each year while offering Indian athletes a chance to compete against world-class opposition on home ground.

Gulveer arrives in excellent form, having recently secured a third-place finish at the New York City Half Marathon with a time of 59:42 — the fastest ever recorded by an Indian in a half marathon.

The national record holder in both 10,000m (27:00.22) and 5,000m (12:59.77), he enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season, clinching double gold at the Asian Athletics Championships. He also set a new course record at the World 25K Kolkata 2025.

Speaking ahead of the race, Gulveer said he is eager to compete in one of India’s most competitive road events and sees it as another opportunity to test himself on familiar terrain.

The event will feature a strong international field, including Uganda’s Harbert Kibet, Kenya’s Vincent Langat, Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida, and Eritrea’s Samuel Habte.

Gulveer noted that competing against such high-quality athletes pushes Indian runners to improve and can inspire more young talent to take up the sport. He also highlighted the importance of such events in a year leading up to major competitions like the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

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The race offers a total prize pool of USD 210,000, with winners in both men’s and women’s categories receiving USD 26,000. Indian elite runners will compete separately for top honours, with Rs 3 lakh for winners and an additional Rs 1 lakh for breaking the event record.