Sawan Barwal Breaks 48-Year-Old Indian Marathon Record at Rotterdam Marathon 2026

India’s Sawan Barwal has broken the country’s longest standing marathon national record and ended the 48-year old record which was set by the Shivnath Singh earlier. The historic achievement comes at the prestigious NN Marathon Rotterdam on the 12th of April, 2026. This feat have added another important chapter in the India’s athletic journey.

The Record-Breaking Performance

Barwal has delivered an outstanding performance in the highly competitive international field.

Key Highlights

• Timing: 2 hours 11 minutes 58 seconds (2:11:58)
• Previous Record: 2:12:00 (set in 1978)
• Event: NN Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Final Position: 20th in elite category

With this timing Sawan Barwal not just only broke the record but he also surpassed the milestone which was unbroken from the last 5 decades. And it is significant achievement in the India’s track and field journey.

Why This Record is So Significant

The previous record which was held by Shivnath Singh since 1978 was the oldest national record in the Indian athletics. To break such a long-standing record reflects,

• The improved training standards in India
• Also rising the global competitiveness of Indian athletes
• The growth of long-distance running culture

This achievement signals the new era for the Indian marathon runners on the global stage.

Who is Sawan Barwal?

Sawan Barwal at the age of 28 comes from the a village in Joginder Nagar which is in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Over the years he has built the reputation as the dedicated long-distance runner through the consistent training and perseverance.

His Journey Highlights That.

• Comes from the humble rural background
• He developed the expertise in endurance running
• Gradually rise through the national and international competitions

His success reflects the growing the presence of talent from smaller towns of the India.