Sawan Barwal ends India's 44-year wait for Asiad marathon silver in steady race

Sawan Barwal ends India's 44-year-old wait for Asiad marathon silver with steady race pace Armyman who moved to marathon running from track races only a year ago, improves his national record to 2: 11: 37, picking up pace on the downhill after.

Key points

• 6 min read Nagoya Updated: Sep 27, 2026 03: 13 AM IST.
• The 28-year-old clocked 2: 11: 37, lowering his own national record, but there was no catching Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita.
• Sawan Barwal woke up at 3.30 am, ate a banana and, a few hours afterwards, ran into Indian athletics history.
• For Sawan Barwal, competing in only his second marathon, the silver was the culmination of an extraordinary transformation.

For Sawan Barwal, competing in only his second marathon, the silver was the culmination of an extraordinary transformation. (AP Photo/Express Photo).

On the damp streets of Nagoya, Barwal won silver in the Asian Games marathon, ending the country's 44-year wait for a medal in the event – and becoming the first Indian to win one outside home soil.

Notably, the 28-year-old clocked 2: 11: 37, lowering his own national record, but there was no catching Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita. This person pulled away to win gold in 2: 10: 49. "This feels special. To win a medal, and set a national record doing it and ending a long wait for a marathon medal. This was my target."

Taken together, the developments around sawan Barwal ends India' s 44-year wait for Asiad marathon silver in steady point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.