India, July 24 -- Gulveer Singh has gradually raised his standards in long-distance races at the world level, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow provide an opportunity for him to test his mettle against some of the best runners in the world.

In the last two years, Gulveer has reset the national records in the 5,000m and 10,000m in races outside India. Winning gold medals in both gruelling events at the Asian Championships has added to his aura, and he was also one of the few Indian athletes to receive invitations to compete in the prestigious Diamond League.

It was at the World Championships in Tokyo, though, where Gulveer said he learnt his most crucial lesson. He finished 16th in the 10,000m and narrowly missed qualifying for the 5...