Sawan Barwal runs into history with Asian Games marathon silver in national record 2:11:37

Sawan Barwal delivered one of Indian athletics' finest moments at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, claiming a silver medal in the men's marathon while simultaneously setting a new national record of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 37 seconds.

The 28-year-old, who serves in the Indian Army and hails from Himachal Pradesh, covered the classic distance of 42.195 kilometres to finish second among Asia's best long-distance runners. His timing surpassed the previous national benchmark and underlined the growing depth of Indian distance running on the continental stage.

Barwal's silver adds to India's medal haul across multiple sports at the 2026 Games, with the Aichi-Nagoya edition continuing to yield results for the country's athletics contingent. For Barwal personally, the performance represents the summit of his career to date, combining a podium finish at Asia's premier multi-sport event with a record that may stand as a landmark in Indian marathon history.