Just days after suffering heartbreak in the men’s 10,000m event, Maharashtra’s Shivaji M produced a strong comeback performance to win the men’s 5000m title at the ongoing Federation Cup 2026.

The 22-year-old clocked 14:14.43s to secure gold in a tightly contested final, edging past Vinod Singh (14:15.50s) and Deepak Bhatt (14:17.18s), who finished second and third respectively.

Shivaji’s victory carried extra significance considering what transpired earlier in the competition. On Day 1 of the Federation Cup, he had crossed the finish line first in the men’s 10,000m race, only to be disqualified later for lane infringement. The dramatic turn of events denied him what would have been one of the biggest wins of his career.

The disappointment did not end there. Following the exhausting 10,000m race, Shivaji also suffered severe dehydration and collapsed near the finish area, requiring immediate assistance from officials and support staff present at the venue. Despite the physical and emotional setback, the young distance runner returned to the track with remarkable resilience.

In the 5000m final, Shivaji looked composed throughout the race and timed his surge perfectly in the closing stages to pull away from the field. His winning time, although outside the demanding Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 13:19.64s, was enough to comfortably breach the qualification mark for the upcoming U23 Asian Athletics Championships.

The performance once again highlighted Shivaji’s potential as one of India’s promising long-distance runners. Bouncing back from a disqualification and physical exhaustion within the same competition is never easy, especially at a high-pressure national meet featuring some of the country’s best athletes.

For Shivaji, the Federation Cup may have begun with frustration and heartbreak, but it ended with redemption — and a gold medal that showcased both his endurance and mental strength.

Indian long-distance running star Gulveer Singh continued his extraordinary rise on the international circuit with another elite performance at the LA Track Fest in Los Angeles, clocking 13:03.93 in the men’s 5000m to finish second in a stacked World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet.

The timing was the second-fastest run of Gulveer’s career and his quickest ever outdoors over the distance.

In a race packed with international talent, Gulveer was beaten only by Eritrea’s Habtom Samuel, who produced a world-leading 12:57.23 and broke the collegiate record in the process. Gulveer crossed the line 6.7 seconds later but comfortably ahead of several accomplished professional runners in what turned into another statement performance from the Indian star.

What makes the run even more remarkable is that Gulveer is no longer merely breaking Indian records — he is now consistently competing at a genuinely high global standard.

The Army athlete from Uttar Pradesh has transformed Indian distance running over the last two seasons. Earlier this year, he became the first Indian ever to break the 13-minute barrier in the 5000m, clocking a stunning 12:59.77 indoors.

He also holds national records in the 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m, including a superb 27:00.22 over 10,000m that made him one of the fastest Asians in history.

The 27-year-old has rapidly evolved from a strong Asian-level athlete into one capable of holding his own in elite international fields. Gulveer is already a double Asian champion, having won both the 5000m and 10,000m titles at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, while also owning an Asian Games bronze medal in the 10,000m.

Perhaps the biggest sign of his development is consistency. Fast times are no longer isolated performances. Whether on the roads, indoors, or on the track outdoors, Gulveer now looks increasingly comfortable running at a pace that once seemed completely out of reach for Indian distance runners.

A concerning moment unfolded at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi after distance runner Shivaji Maddapa collapsed following the men’s 10,000m race, reportedly due to severe dehydration.

Shivaji, who had initially crossed the finish line in second place, required immediate medical attention on the track itself. Army coach Sub Younus Khan and psychologist Col Arvind Jha rushed in quickly to assist the athlete before further support arrived.

Fortunately, timely intervention helped stabilise the runner at the venue.

The incident also led to a dramatic twist in the race results. Despite finishing second, Shivaji was later disqualified after officials noted that he had stepped outside the race lane during the final lap. Reports suggested the athlete may have become disoriented because of dehydration towards the closing stages of the race.

The episode once again highlighted the physical demands of long-distance racing, particularly in difficult weather conditions and high-intensity domestic competitions.

Uttarakhand’s Deepak Bhatt produced the standout performance in the men’s 10,000m at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi, winning gold with a lifetime best timing of 29:42.93s.

In a race that turned tactical through the middle stages before quickening in the final laps, Deepak held his composure well to pull away from the field and secure the national title. The performance marked a significant personal milestone for the distance runner, who dipped below the 30-minute mark for the first time in his career.

Shailesh Khushwaha finished second in 29:57.56s, also going under the 30-minute barrier, while Prashant Chaudhary took bronze in 30:36.97s.

While the race produced strong domestic performances, the timings also underlined the gap Indian men’s distance running still faces at the international level. None of the athletes were able to meet the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard of 27:39.03.

The Federation Cup remains one of India’s key domestic meets, often serving as an important selection event ahead of major international competitions. With Indian athletics increasingly focusing on global qualification standards, performances at events like these are being viewed not just through medal outcomes but also through the lens of international competitiveness.

For Deepak, however, the evening belonged to personal progress. Winning a national-level title while setting a lifetime best will provide an important confidence boost as the season moves towards tougher international benchmarks and qualification races later in the year.

History has been rewritten in Indian athletics as Sawan Barwal delivered a landmark performance on the global stage.

Competing at the NN Marathon Rotterdam, Barwal clocked an outstanding 2:11:58 in the marathon, finishing 20th overall and etching his name into the record books.

With this run, he broke one of the most iconic records in Indian athletics history — the long-standing mark of Shivnath Singh, who had clocked 2:12:00 way back in 1978 in Jalandhar.

The significance of this achievement goes far beyond the timing. Shivnath Singh’s record had stood unchallenged for an astonishing 47 years, 10 months, and 15 days, making it the oldest national record in Indian athletics.

Barwal’s performance not only ends a historic drought but also signals a new era for Indian distance running, proving that Indian marathoners are ready to compete at a higher global level.

This is more than just a record — it’s a defining moment for the sport in India.

Shailesh Kushwaha delivered a personal best performance to win the men’s 10,000m at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi.

He clocked 30:01.08 in his first race over the distance since 2024, timing his effort well to take control in the closing stages.

Kartik Karkera finished second in 30:08.09.

Primarily a marathon runner, this race was part of his off-season training block.

Vinod Singh secured third place in 30:09.62, as the race saw a closely packed finish among the top three.