Star Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh, who is the current Asian champion in the 10000m sprint, has become the first Indian to run the men’s one-mile pro in less than four minutes.
Gulveer clocked 3:55.63 in the event while running at the 24th Music City Track Carnival in the United States. He won the race while Christopher Knight and Tristan Trevino finished second and third.
The men’s professional mile is one of track and field’s marquee middle-distance events, with elite runners striving to break the coveted four-minute barrier, which Gulveer did on Wednesday.
The world record stands at 3:43.13, set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. To compete at the highest level, athletes must sustain an average pace of almost 55 seconds per lap.
Gulveer
is the reigning Asian champion in the 5,000 metres, having claimed gold at the 2025 Asian Championships. He also won bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2022 Asian Games and another bronze in the 5,000 metres at the 2023 Asian Championships.
Earlier this year, Gulveer finished 40th at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee.
Last week in Bhubaneswar, Gulveer only needed to clock under 13:39.18, the qualifying standard set by the Athletics Federation of India for the 5,000 metres at the Asian Games.
But as Gulveer charged down the final straight at Kalinga Stadium early on Wednesday morning, it was evident that, despite holding a commanding lead over the field, he was never going to threaten that mark.
Gulveer’s national record in 5000m is 12:59.77, but not run in India for two years, that speed definitely took a hit.
Gulveer clocked 13:52.92, his slowest 5,000m time in nearly two years. His previous slowest outing came at the 2024 Indian Open Athletics Championships, where he finished in 13:54.70.
“I am not satisfied with the time,” Gulveer said while speaking to Sportstar.
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178314502991356299.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178314503224947506.webp)