Nagoya: Sawan Barwal ran a stunning marathon race to hand India an unexpected silver in the Asian Games, shattering his own national record in the process here on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Armyman from Himachal Pradesh clocked 2 hour, 11 minute and 37 seconds to complete the distance of 42.195km and finish behind Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita (2:10:49). China’s Peiyou Feng was third with 2:12:13.
His silver is the first medal for India in the Asian Games after the bronze won by Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan in the 1982 edition in New Delhi.
At the halfway mark, Barwal was already in second position. He subsequently remained in the medal hunt as the field began to thin out, reaching the 35-kilometre mark in second place with a reported time of 1:49:29.
With around seven kilometres remaining, Barwal was still in pursuit of Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita. The Japanese runner eventually established a gap, but Barwal held on to his position through the closing stages. With just a few kilometres left, the Indian was around 26 seconds behind Yamashita but remained comfortably in silver-medal contention.
Barwal’s achievement adds a fourth Asian Games marathon medal to India’s historical tally. Chhota Singh won gold in the inaugural 1951 Asian Games, while Surat Singh Mathur claimed bronze at the same edition. Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan added another bronze at the 1982 Asian Games.
Barwal’s silver now becomes India’s first marathon medal at the continental event in 44 years.
The other Indian in the race, Kartik Karkera, finished 17th after completing the marathon in 2:22:41.
The medal also marks another significant moment for Indian athletics at the 2026 Asian Games, with Barwal converting his national-record credentials into a podium finish on the continental stage.
