Gopal Saini

{{short description|Indian middle-distance runner}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Gopal Saini

| image = Gopal saini cropped.jpg

| national_team = {{IND}}

| birth_date = {{birth year|1954}}

| birth_place = Rajasthan, India

| sport = Middle distance runner

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Championships}}

{{MedalGold|1981 Tokyo|5000 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1981 Tokyo|3000 m st.}}

{{MedalBronze|1979 Tokyo|5000 m}}

{{MedalBronze|1979 Tokyo|3000 m st.}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}}

{{MedalSilver|1978 Bangkok|3000 m st.}}

{{MedalSilver|1982 new delhi|3000 m st.}}

}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

Gopal Saini (born 1954) is a former Indian middle-distance runner. He held the national record in 3000 meters Steeplechase which was unbeaten for 37 years. Saini set the 3000m Steeplechase record (8:30.88) in Tokyo,Japan on 5 June 1981 which was then broken by Avinash Sable by clocking 8:29.80 at the 2018 National Open Championships in Bhubaneswar. Sable set a new national record of 8:11.20 in August 2022 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Saini represented in 1980 22nd olympic games in Soviet Union for men's 5000m race.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418085445/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/gopal-saini-1.html]

He hails from Rajasthan. He was conferred Arjuna award in 1981 for his achievements.

He practiced on terrains for strength of legs. He currently works in SBBJ and also owns a restaurant in Jaipur.