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.