Asian Games 2026 | India's 44-Year Wait Ends As Sawan Barwal Clinches Silver In Men's Marathon

India's Sawan Barwal produced a landmark performance at the Asian Games 2026, clinching the silver medal in the men's marathon and ending the country's 44-year wait for a medal in the event. Barwal, the Indian national record-holder, stayed in medal contention through a tightly contested race in Nagoya before securing second place in the 42.195-kilometre event. His silver is India's first Asian Games marathon medal since the 1982 edition and the first by an Indian man on foreign soil. The marathon began at 4 a.m. IST, with Barwal and fellow Indian runner Kartik Karkera among the 19 participants. Barwal remained firmly among the leading group through the early stages before making his presence felt at the front as the race progressed.