Sangay Battles Through 10,000m Final as Bhutanese Runner Finishes 10th at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
NISHIO, JAPAN | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026
Sangay dug deep through the long, demanding laps of the Men’s 10,000m Final on Friday night, finishing 10th in 32:56.18 as he took on one of the toughest distance races of his career at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
At Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, Sangay lined up alongside 12 other runners from across Asia, with the race quickly settling into a demanding test of pace and endurance. After 10,000 metres of racing, he crossed the line in 10th among the 11 athletes who completed the final, with two runners recording DNFs.
Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew took the gold in 28:27.51, followed by India’s Gulveer Singh in 28:29.38 and Bahrain’s Albert Kiptoo in 28:34.38. Japan’s Yamato Yoshii finished fifth in 29:06.64, while Sangay stopped the clock at 32:56.18.
For Sangay, the result came against a field that included runners who finished inside the 29-minute mark, making the race a demanding test from start to finish. He stayed in the contest and completed the full distance, finishing ahead of Mongolia’s Myagmarsuren Javaa, who crossed in 33:29.61.
The 10,000m was Sangay’s first athletics event at these Games, but his campaign is not over. The Bhutanese distance runner is also entered in the Men’s 5,000m, giving him another opportunity to step onto the track later in the Games. The Bhutan Olympic Committee lists Sangay for both events, with Gawa Zangpo competing in the Men’s 5,000m and Varun Krishnan Kumar serving as head coach of the athletics team.
The Men’s 10,000m final was held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium as part of the athletics competition at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The event schedule placed the final at 20:32 on September 25.
For a runner, the 10,000m offers nowhere to hide. It is a race of rhythm, patience and endurance, where every lap adds to the demand on the body. Sangay stayed with it until the finish and now has the 5,000m ahead as he continues his Asian Games campaign.
MEN’S 10,000m FINAL
10th — Sangay 🇧🇹
Time: 32:56.18
Venue: Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium
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