Havaldar Sawan Barwal creates history with new National Marathon Record

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Apr: Havaldar Sawan Barwal of 501 FSEG unit, under ADG Military Survey, E-in-C Branch and administrative control of UK Sub Area, has set a new National Record in the full marathon (42.195 km).
Havaldar Barwal clocked an outstanding time of 2 hours 11 minutes and 58 seconds at the prestigious NN Marathon Rotterdam held on 12 April. In doing so, he surpassed the long-standing national record of 2:12:00 set by Shivnath Singh in 1978, a record that had remained unbroken for 48 years the longest-standing mark in Indian athletics.
Competing in a world-class field, Havaldar Barwal finished 20th in the elite race, marking an exceptional performance in what was his debut marathon. Despite challenging weather conditions, including strong winds in the latter stages, he maintained a steady pace throughout the race, demonstrating remarkable endurance and determination.
Hailing from a village in Joginder Nagar, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, Havaldar Barwal’s journey is a story of perseverance and dedication. Having joined the Indian Army in 2019, he has steadily risen through the ranks, with notable achievements at national and international levels. His recent performance stands as a culmination of years of rigorous training and commitment to excellence.
Havaldar Barwal’s achievement, reflects the Indian Army’s continued emphasis on promoting sports and nurturing talent. His success is expected to inspire aspiring athletes across the nation and further strengthen India’s presence in long distance running on the global stage.