Asian Games 2026: India’s Medal Rush Continues as Sawan Barwal Delivers Historic Marathon Silver
India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has entered another high-profile phase, with Indian athletes continuing to add medals across multiple sporting disciplines.
One of the biggest moments came from Sawan Barwal, who won the silver medal in the men’s marathon. His performance ended a 44-year wait for India in the Asian Games men’s marathon event. India’s previous medal in the discipline came at the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.
Sawan Barwal Creates a Historic Moment
Barwal produced a strong performance in the marathon, finishing with a time of 2:11:37 and securing the silver medal.
The result is particularly significant because Indian athletes had not stood on the Asian Games podium in the men’s marathon since the 1982 edition. His medal therefore became one of the notable athletics stories of India’s campaign in Nagoya.
The marathon result also added another major name to India’s growing list of medal winners at the Games.
India Adds More Medals in Shooting and Squash
The marathon was not the only major medal moment for India.
India’s women’s 50m rifle 3-position team of Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa Kochalumkal secured a silver medal.
In mixed doubles squash, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar added a bronze medal to India’s tally.
These results came alongside strong performances from Indian athletes in athletics, shooting, table tennis and other disciplines.
Gulveer Singh Also Shines in Athletics
Earlier in the Games, distance runner Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000 metres.
Gulveer completed the race in 28:29.38, finishing behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew. His performance improved on the bronze medal he won in the same event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
India also collected bronze medals in women’s shot put and women’s pole vault during the athletics programme.
India’s Medal Tally Continues to Change
The medal count has been moving rapidly as more events reach their finals.
An updated tally reported on September 26 showed India with 27 medals — 3 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze after the latest results, although live tallies can change as events conclude and results are officially updated.
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with athletes competing across dozens of sports.
Kabaddi Becomes Another Major Focus
Indian fans also had another major reason to follow the action on September 26, with India’s women’s and men’s kabaddi teams scheduled for important matches.
The women’s team faced Iran in the final, while the men’s team was also scheduled to play Iran later in the day.
That made September 26 one of the important days for India’s medal campaign, with athletics, shooting, kabaddi, hockey, badminton, boxing, squash, archery and other sports featuring Indian athletes.
Why the Asian Games Story Is Drawing Attention
The Asian Games are generating strong interest among Indian sports fans because the country is represented across a wide range of disciplines.
While cricket remains one of India’s most followed sports, the Asian Games are providing visibility to athletes from athletics, shooting, squash, fencing, archery, weightlifting, rowing, badminton and other disciplines.
The performances of athletes such as Sawan Barwal and Gulveer Singh are also bringing attention to events that generally receive less mainstream coverage than cricket.
What Comes Next for India?
The Games continue until October 4, meaning India’s medal tally is expected to change significantly as more finals take place.
For Indian fans, attention will remain on the medal table as athletes compete for gold, silver and bronze across the remaining events.
With the competition still underway, the final position of India in the overall medal standings cannot yet be determined.
India’s Asian Games campaign continues in Nagoya, and every new medal is adding another chapter to the country’s 2026 sporting story.