A concerning moment unfolded at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi after distance runner Shivaji Maddapa collapsed following the men’s 10,000m race, reportedly due to severe dehydration.
Shivaji, who had initially crossed the finish line in second place, required immediate medical attention on the track itself. Army coach Sub Younus Khan and psychologist Col Arvind Jha rushed in quickly to assist the athlete before further support arrived.
Fortunately, timely intervention helped stabilise the runner at the venue.
The incident also led to a dramatic twist in the race results. Despite finishing second, Shivaji was later disqualified after officials noted that he had stepped outside the race lane during the final lap. Reports suggested the athlete may have become disoriented because of dehydration towards the closing stages of the race.
The episode once again highlighted the physical demands of long-distance racing, particularly in difficult weather conditions and high-intensity domestic competitions.
Uttarakhand’s Deepak Bhatt produced the standout performance in the men’s 10,000m at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi, winning gold with a lifetime best timing of 29:42.93s.
In a race that turned tactical through the middle stages before quickening in the final laps, Deepak held his composure well to pull away from the field and secure the national title. The performance marked a significant personal milestone for the distance runner, who dipped below the 30-minute mark for the first time in his career.
Shailesh Khushwaha finished second in 29:57.56s, also going under the 30-minute barrier, while Prashant Chaudhary took bronze in 30:36.97s.
While the race produced strong domestic performances, the timings also underlined the gap Indian men’s distance running still faces at the international level. None of the athletes were able to meet the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard of 27:39.03.
The Federation Cup remains one of India’s key domestic meets, often serving as an important selection event ahead of major international competitions. With Indian athletics increasingly focusing on global qualification standards, performances at events like these are being viewed not just through medal outcomes but also through the lens of international competitiveness.
For Deepak, however, the evening belonged to personal progress. Winning a national-level title while setting a lifetime best will provide an important confidence boost as the season moves towards tougher international benchmarks and qualification races later in the year.
For 48 years, one number refused to move.
2:12:00 — set by Shivnath Singh in 1978.
It survived generations. Attempts came and went. Nothing changed.
Until Rotterdam.
Sawan Barwal, running his first-ever marathon, crossed the line in 2:11:58—breaking the record by 0.42 seconds. The smallest margin. The biggest shift.
But this wasn’t a perfect race. It was anything but.
For most of the run, Barwal was on pace for something faster. Then came the final two kilometres—cold wind, heavy legs, and a moment that nearly ended it.
“I poured water on my head, which caused a slight blackout… we can call those last 2 kilometers bad luck,” he told NNIS Sports.
He didn’t just slow. He faltered. He had to hold himself together to finish.
And still—he broke the record.
“I came here fully determined to break the national record. I was targeting around 2:08 to 2:10,” he told NNIS Sports.
This wasn’t supposed to happen on a debut. Not after just five months of moving up from the track.
But Barwal didn’t run a perfect race.
He ran a historic one.
History has been rewritten in Indian athletics as Sawan Barwal delivered a landmark performance on the global stage.
Competing at the NN Marathon Rotterdam, Barwal clocked an outstanding 2:11:58 in the marathon, finishing 20th overall and etching his name into the record books.
With this run, he broke one of the most iconic records in Indian athletics history — the long-standing mark of Shivnath Singh, who had clocked 2:12:00 way back in 1978 in Jalandhar.
The significance of this achievement goes far beyond the timing. Shivnath Singh’s record had stood unchallenged for an astonishing 47 years, 10 months, and 15 days, making it the oldest national record in Indian athletics.
Barwal’s performance not only ends a historic drought but also signals a new era for Indian distance running, proving that Indian marathoners are ready to compete at a higher global level.
This is more than just a record — it’s a defining moment for the sport in India.
Shailesh Kushwaha delivered a personal best performance to win the men’s 10,000m at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi.
He clocked 30:01.08 in his first race over the distance since 2024, timing his effort well to take control in the closing stages.
Kartik Karkera finished second in 30:08.09.
Primarily a marathon runner, this race was part of his off-season training block.
Vinod Singh secured third place in 30:09.62, as the race saw a closely packed finish among the top three.
