India’s Sawan Barwal on Saturday (September 26) scripted history by winning a silver medal with a personal best timing in men’s marathon final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan.

Barwal registered India’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.

Also read: India’s schedule for Asian Games on September 26

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.

In April this year, he broke Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old national record at the NN Marathon, Rotterdam.

Barwal was leading the pack for a while.

At the halfway mark, Barwal had moved up to second place with a timing of 1:05:54. Kartik Karkera, the other Indian runner in event, finished 17th among 19 runners.