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Sawan Barwal breaks Shivnath Singhs 48 year old Indian marathon record in Rotterdam with 2:11:58 on debut, fellow Indian Gopi Thonakal clocks 2:13:16
Sawan Barwal (R) of Himachal Pradesh leads as he competes in the men’s 5000m run at the 27th National Federation Senior Athletics Competition, in Bhubaneswar, Monday, May 13, 2024. Barwal won the event. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)
Sawan Barwal etched his name into Indian athletics history on Sunday by shattering a 48-year-old national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam. Competing in his debut over the classic 42.195 km distance, the Himachal Pradesh runner clocked an impressive 2:11:58, finishing 20th in a highly competitive elite field.
In doing so, Barwal eclipsed the long-standing mark of 2:12:00 set by Shivnath Singh back in 1978. The record remained untouched for nearly five decades and was widely regarded as one of the toughest milestones in Indian track and field.
What makes Barwal’s feat even more remarkable is that this was his first official marathon outing. Known primarily for his performances in shorter long-distance events, the 28-year-old had previously built his reputation through half marathons as well as 5000m and 10000m races.
His transition to the marathon distance appears seamless, underlining both his endurance and meticulous preparation. Another Indian in the race, Gopi Thonakal, finished 23rd with a time of 2:13:16, adding further depth to India’s presence at the event.
Barwal’s race strategy was measured and disciplined. He crossed the halfway mark in 1:04:43, in 27th place, before steadily improving his standing to 19th by the 35 km mark. Though he slipped one place towards the finish, his timing was enough to rewrite the national record books.
Participation in this marathon was aligned with Project 2:09, Reliance Foundation’s high-performance initiative within the Endurance Program, aimed at enabling Indian athletes to break the 2:10 marathon barrier through science-led training, structured international exposure, and race-specific execution strategies.
The Rotterdam Marathon serves as a key benchmark competition within the long-term pathway, supporting the broader objective of elevating India’s standards in global marathon running. Currently, Sawan Barwal, Gopi Thonakal, and Man Singh are part of this project, with Gopi, Sawan and Man having already achieved their personal best performances under the initiative.
Who is Sawan Barwal?
Hailing from a small village in Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, Barwal’s journey reflects years of persistence and dedication. An Indian Army personnel since 2019, he has steadily risen through the ranks, guided by coach Gopal Thakur.
His career highlights include a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Half Marathon Championships and multiple national titles, particularly a dominant 2025 season where he clinched gold in both 5000m and 10000m events at the National Games.
April 12, 2026, 5:52 PM IST
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