Asian marathon championship

Asian Marathon Championships: India’s long-distance running scene has often existed away from the spotlight, tucked behind the glamour of cricket stadiums and sprint tracks. But for Sawan Barwal, the road to becoming one of the country’s most promising marathon runners began far from packed arenas, in the tranquil hills of Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, where endurance is not built in training camps alone but in everyday life itself.

Earlier this year, Barwal scripted history by breaking India’s 48-year-old national marathon record, a feat that suddenly pushed the soft-spoken Army athlete into national prominence. Yet, in conversation, the record-breaking runner speaks less about fame and more about discipline, recovery, patience, and the people who quietly carried him through years when success was far from guaranteed.

In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Barwal reflected on growing up in the hills, overcoming injuries, family sacrifices, and why long-distance running is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one.