Asian Games 2026: Sawan Barwal wins marathon silver in national record, ending 44-year wait; Tajinderpal Toor silver, Prachi Choudhary bronze
On 26 September 2026 Sawan Barwal won men's marathon silver at Aichi-Nagoya in a national record 2:11:37, India's first Asian Games marathon medal since 1982; Tajinderpal Singh Toor won shot put silver and Prachi Choudhary 400 m bronze.
Summary
Sawan Barwal finished second in the men's marathon in 2:11:37 behind Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita, improving by 21 seconds the national record of 2:11:58 he had set in Rotterdam in April. It was India's first medal in the event since 1982 and its first ever Asian Games marathon medal won outside India. Two-time defending champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor took shot put silver with 20.64 m; Iran's Mohammadreza Tayebise won gold with 20.81 m, breaking Toor's 2018 Games record of 20.75 m. Prachi Choudhary won women's 400 m bronze in 53.21 s; Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser won in a Games record 49.20 s.
Key facts
- Sawan Barwal
- Men's marathon silver, 2:11:37 — national record (old 2:11:58, Rotterdam, April 2026)
- Significance
- India's first Asian Games marathon medal since 1982; first won outside India
- Marathon gold
- Ichitaka Yamashita (Japan)
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor
- Shot put silver, 20.64 m; gold Mohammadreza Tayebise (Iran) 20.81 m, Games record
- Toor's record
- Asian Games golds in 2018 and 2022; his 2018 Games record 20.75 m was broken
- Prachi Choudhary
- Women's 400 m bronze, 53.21 s; gold Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), Games record 49.20 s
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Sawan Barwal won a historic silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 in which event?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Men's marathon
Sawan Barwal won men's marathon silver in a national record 2:11:37.
What national record time did Sawan Barwal clock in the Asian Games 2026 marathon?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 2:11:37
He clocked 2:11:37, improving by 21 seconds his own record of 2:11:58 set in Rotterdam in April 2026.
Before Sawan Barwal's silver in 2026, in which year had India last won an Asian Games medal in the men's marathon?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1982
India's previous Asian Games marathon medal was a bronze at the 1982 New Delhi Games, so Barwal ended a 44-year wait.
Consider the following statements about India's athletics medals on 26 September 2026: 1. Tajinderpal Singh Toor won his third consecutive Asian Games shot put gold. 2. Prachi Choudhary won bronze in the women's 400 m in 53.21 s. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: Toor, gold medallist in 2018 and 2022, won silver with 20.64 m. Statement 2 is correct.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor's Asian Games record of 20.75 m (2018) was broken in 2026 by the shot put gold medallist from which country?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Iran
Iran's Mohammadreza Tayebise won gold with 20.81 m, a new Games record; Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Tolu took bronze.