Gavit Murali Kumar becomes 2nd fastest Indian in 10,000m race

Long distance runner Gavit Murali Kumar bagged a gold in men's 10,000m race at the Gouden Spike meeting in Leiden, Netherlands to become the second fastest Indian in the event as track and field athletes continued their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.

The 21-year-old Kumar, who hails from Gujarat, clocked a personal best of 28 minutes 43.34 seconds, the best by an Indian in the ongoing season. Current long-distance coach Surendra Singh, who holds the national record of 28:02.89, has run faster than Kumar on four occasions.

Kumar's earlier best was at 29:33.85 during the Federation Cup in Patiala in March. The men's 10,000m bronze medal winner in 2014 Asian Games had clocked 28:45.65.

The Gouden Spike is one of the top meeting in the Netherlands. Its current European Athletics status is Outdoor Meetings with National Permit.

Meanwhile, Indian athletes continued their preparations by competing during their training-cum-exposure tour of Europe.