Sawan Barwal wins India’s first Asian Games men’s marathon medal in 44 years
Indian Army runner Sawan Barwal won silver in the Asian Games men’s marathon in Nagoya with a national-record time of 2:11:37. His preparation included altitude training in Ooty and Colorado Springs, weekly mileage of about 200 kilometres and long runs designed to prepare him for the race’s demanding final stages.
Sawan Barwal won India’s first Asian Games men’s marathon medal in 44 years on Saturday, taking silver in Nagoya with a national-record time of 2:11:37. Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita won gold in 2:10:49, while China’s Peiyou Feng finished third in 2:12:13. Barwal’s result was India’s first medal in the event since Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan won bronze at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
The 28-year-old Army runner improved his own national record by 21 seconds. He had set the previous mark of 2:11:58 on his marathon debut in Rotterdam in April, breaking Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old record of 2:12:00. Barwal began preparing for Nagoya soon after Rotterdam.
He trained at high altitude in Ooty before spending two months in Colorado Springs, where the athletics federation sent him for further preparation. The Reliance Foundation supported the training stint. Barwal said working with elite coaches in Colorado Springs improved his confidence.
His programme also focused on the final five or six kilometres of the marathon, when fatigue becomes decisive. Long runs of 40 or 42 kilometres were scheduled on alternate weeks. He typically ran 40 or 41 kilometres at a pace 10 to 20 seconds slower than his intended marathon pace.
His weekly programme included speed work, a long run and tempo training, with weekly mileage of about 200 kilometres. Even easier days could involve runs of 20 to 25 kilometres. Barwal led for much of the race, moving to the front around the 10-kilometre mark and remaining there until 35 kilometres.
Yamashita then pulled away, but Barwal held on to second place. He covered the final 7.145 kilometres in 22 minutes and 13 seconds. Barwal said he had not entered the race focused on another national record.
His priority was to win a medal and maintain his pace. The record came as a consequence of his performance.
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