Sawan Barwal Creates History in Asian Games Marathon

Marathon running is considered one of the toughest endurance events, and winning a medal at the Asian Games makes the achievement even more special. Sawan Barwal, a 28-year-old athlete from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, has accomplished exactly that. Growing up in the mountainous region helped him develop the endurance needed for long-distance running. After joining the Army, he took up marathon running on the advice of coach Yunis Khan and trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. In 2024, he won gold in the Delhi National Half Marathon and also secured gold in the 10,000m event at the National Federation Athletics Championships.

Barwal entered the full-marathon circuit this year under coach Scott Simmons. At the NN Rotterdam event, he clocked 2:11:58, breaking a national record that had stood for 48 years, and won gold. Despite limited international experience and little exposure to major marathon competitions before the Asian Games, Barwal produced a remarkable performance at the Japan Asian Games. He reportedly began the race after eating just a banana and relied on small amounts of water during the event. Finishing at a national-record pace, he secured a silver medal for India. It was also India's first marathon medal at an Asian Games held outside the country.