India's Sawan Barwal wins historic silver in men's marathon at 2026 Asian Games

India's Sawan Barwal reacts after his second place finish in the men's marathon at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Sawan Barwal scripted history at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday, winning silver in the men’s marathon and ending India’s 44-year wait for a medal in the event. He clocked a personal best of 2:11:37, finishing 48 seconds behind Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita, who won gold in 2:10:49. China’s Peiyou Feng took bronze with 2:12:13. The marathon started at 4 a.m. IST with 19 runners, including Barwal and fellow Indian Kartik Karkera. Barwal quickly established himself among the leaders and was in second place at the halfway mark with a timing of 1:05:54. He continued to hold his position as the race entered its final stages, reaching the 35-kilometre mark in second. With around seven kilometres left, Barwal was still chasing Yamashita. The Japanese runner eventually opened up a gap, but Barwal maintained his pace and stayed firmly in silver-medal position. He finished with a timing of 2:11:37, securing India’s first Asian Games marathon medal since the 1982 Delhi Games and the country’s first medal in the event on foreign soil.

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Historic medal for Indian athletics

The silver adds to Barwal’s growing record. In April, he broke Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam. His latest performance now converts that record-setting form into a major international medal. Barwal’s silver is India’s fourth Asian Games marathon medal. Chhota Singh won gold and Surat Singh Mathur took bronze at the inaugural 1951 Games, while Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan won another bronze in 1982. The other Indian runner, Kartik Karkera, finished 17th among 19 competitors with a time of 2:22:41.

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