Indian Army Havildar Sawan Barwal who broke national full marathon recordDehradun: : In a significant moment for Indian athletics, Havildar Sawan Barwal of the Indian Army has rewritten a nearly half-century-old record, clocking 2 hours, 11 minutes and 58 seconds at the 45th NN Marathon Rotterdam on April 12 in the Netherlands. The timing not only marked a personal milestone but also shattered a 48-year-old national record in the full marathon.The feat was confirmed by Defense PRO Dehradun, Col Manish Shrivastava, who said Barwal, attached to the Field Survey Engineering Group under the additional director general, Military Survey in the Uttarakhand sub-area, finished 20th overall in what was his debut marathon.“With the exceptional performance in his very first race, he broke the long-standing national record of Shivnath Singh, who had clocked 2 hours and 12 minutes in 1978. His record remained unbroken for 48 years, making it the longest-standing record in Indian athletics,” said Col Shrivastava.He added, “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 in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, Barwal’s journey reflects years of persistence. “Since joining the Indian Army in 2019, he has steadily built his profile through national and international competitions, culminating in this landmark performance on the global stage. For the Army, which has long nurtured sporting talent, Barwal’s run is another example of how institutional support and individual grit can come together to produce moments of national pride,” Col Shrivastava said.