Historic Silver for India as Barwal Finishes Second in Nagoya Marathon

In a tightly contested marathon that began before sunrise, Sawan Barwal emerged as India’s sole medalist, taking second place with a time just shy of the winner’s. The race featured 19 international competitors and two Indians, with Barwal staying in the lead group throughout the early stages. By the 21‑kilometre point he was already positioned among the front runners, and a solid 1:49:29 split at the 35‑kilometre marker confirmed his place on the podium. Although Japanese contender Ichitaka Yamashita created a decisive gap in the final seven kilometres, Barwal’s consistency earned him a silver medal – the first for an Indian male marathoner at an Asian Games held abroad. His compatriot Kartik Karkera crossed the line in 2:22:41, placing 17th.