India's Sawan Barwal won a historic silver medal with a personal best timing in men's marathon final at the Asian Games on Saturday, registering the country's first podium finish in the event in 44 years. India last won a marathon medal in the mega event at the 1982 Delhi edition of the Games. Barwal clocked 2:11:37, finishing 48 seconds behind gold medallist Ichitaka Yamashita of Japan, who clocked 2:10:49. China's Peiyou Feng (2:12:13) bagged the bronze medal.
44 YEARS. ONE MAN. ONE HISTORIC SILVER. ????????
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) September 26, 2026
Sawan Barwal has won India's first Asian Games marathon medal since 1982.
2:11:37, a NEW NATIONAL RECORD
And he's the first Indian ever to win one outside India. Every marathon medal before today was won at home in Delhi:
… pic.twitter.com/vAWZ3cAF3z
India’s medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya reaches 24.The result also gave India its first Asian Games marathon medal won outside the country. Its previous three podium finishes had all come at editions held in New Delhi.
Barwal was not merely chasing a podium through the 42.195 km race. He spent a substantial part of the marathon at the front. He was second after 5km with a split of 15:28 before moving into the lead by 10 km. He remained in front at 15 km and 20 km and crossed the halfway point leading in 1:05:54, according to race splits shared by the Athletics Federation of India.At 30 km, Barwal had slipped to second but was just one second behind the leader. He regained the lead by 35 km, reaching the mark in 1:49:29.Yamashita made his decisive move over the final stretch. By 40 km, Barwal was back in second, and the Japanese runner went on to take gold.
Newsinc24 Team
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