Sawan Barwal Holds His Ground, Ends India’s 44-Year Wait for Asian Games Marathon Medal

At the 36km mark, the gap began to open. Japan’s Yamashita had moved around 20 to 30 metres ahead. Sawan Barwal was still chasing, with the finish line more than six kilometres away.

Gold was pulling further up the road. Behind Yamashita, the Indian runner held his position.

Barwal stayed second until the finish, completing the men’s marathon at the Asian Games 2026 in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 37 seconds. His silver ended India’s 44-year wait for a medal in the event, taking the country back to a podium it had last reached in 1982.

The result came after a race in which Barwal had run with the leaders, briefly taken the lead himself and stayed in contention as the field narrowed.

Into the Lead, Then Into a Three-Man Contest

Barwal was among the leading runners after 10km. By the 21km mark, he had moved to the front.

There was still roughly half the marathon to negotiate. As the pace increased, he remained with the leading group, keeping himself in contention through the demanding later stages.

Between 30km and 35km, the contest at the front had narrowed to three runners: Yamashita, China’s Han and Barwal.

Then Yamashita made his move.

At 36km, the Japanese runner established a visible advantage over his pursuers. Barwal stayed second, maintaining the position through the remaining kilometres as Yamashita went on to take gold.

For the Indian, the closing stretch became the final test of a performance he had sustained from the early stages. He reached the line with silver secured.

A Finish That Ended a Long Wait

India had gone without an Asian Games marathon medal since 1982. Barwal’s finish ended that absence and added a significant result to the country’s athletics campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.

His compatriot Kartik Karkera also competed in the final. Karkera ran with the leading group early on before dropping back as the race progressed.

Barwal, however, remained near the front through the changes in pace and position. From taking the lead around halfway to holding second after Yamashita’s break, his race demanded sustained effort across the distance.

At the finish, that effort had earned India a medal 44 years in the making.

India’s Medal Tally Reaches 24

India’s tally stood at 24 medals: two golds, 10 silvers and 12 bronzes. Shooting accounted for 10 of those medals.

Saturday’s programme offered further opportunities, with both Indian kabaddi teams scheduled to face Iran in their respective gold-medal matches at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium.

The women’s final was scheduled for the morning, followed by the men’s title clash in the afternoon. India’s men were chasing a ninth Asian Games gold, while the women were seeking their fourth.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was also set to begin her women’s singles badminton campaign, following the unexpected men’s doubles exit of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

For Barwal, the work was already done. After more than two hours on the road, he had crossed the line with a silver medal and ended one of Indian athletics’ longest Asian Games waits.

With inputs from ANI