World Athletics vice-president
Addressing the claims that circulated after the race, Sumariwalla labelled the reports as "absolute nonsense and ridiculous." He confirmed that a full support staff, including coaches Scott Simmons, Ronald Gerd Weigel, Younis and Ajit, as well as recovery expert Asanha de Silva, physios Mayur Thakkar and Ishaan Marwaha, and masseur Rengith Gopi, were present at the finish line to support the athlete. Sumariwalla expressed confusion regarding the origin of the allegations, stating he was unaware of the basis for such claims.
A Landmark Performance for Indian Athletics
Barwal’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian distance running, as he became the first Indian to win an
The race, held in mild conditions of 21 degrees Celsius with occasional drizzle, saw Barwal maintain a disciplined strategy. He reached the halfway point in 1:05:54 and remained in the lead pack as the field thinned out after the 35km mark. Reflecting on his tactical approach, Barwal noted that his primary goal was to secure a medal rather than chase a record. He successfully stayed with the lead group until the final stages, eventually pulling away from China’s Peiyou Feng, who took bronze with a time of 2:12:13.
From Local Tracks to International Success
Barwal’s journey to the international stage began by chance as a teenager, inspired by his elder brother’s involvement in school athletics. After transitioning from shorter distances like the 5,000m and 10,000m to the marathon earlier this year, he has quickly established himself as a premier long-distance runner. His background includes a gold medal double in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 National Games in Dehradun, and he has been a member of the Army sports quota since 2019.
While Barwal celebrated his silver medal, his compatriot Kartik Karkera also competed in the event, finishing 17th with a time of 2:22:41. Barwal’s success places him among an elite group of Indian marathoners, joining the ranks of Chhota Singh and Surat Singh Mathur, who claimed gold and bronze respectively at the inaugural Asian Games in 1951.
