Asian Games 2026: Sawan Barwal Bags Historic Marathon Silver as Women’s Kabaddi Team Claims Gold

India enjoyed a stellar day at the 2026 Asian Games, highlighted by Sawan Barwal's record-breaking marathon silver, kabaddi gold against Iran, and top squash performances.

Sawan Barwal delivered a landmark performance in the men’s marathon at the 2026 Asian Games, breaking a 44-year jinx to claim a historic silver medal while setting a new national record.

India's women’s kabaddi team extended the country's success, edging out fierce rivals Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final after holding a 22-16 advantage at half-time.

The squash courts saw remarkable action as 18-year-old prodigy Anahat Singh rallied from two games down to defeat Japan’s Satomi Watanabe 3-2 in the women’s singles semifinal, booking her spot in the gold medal match. Abhay Singh also charged into the men’s singles final with a dominant 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-6) victory over Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan.

In mixed doubles squash, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar settled for bronze following a tight 2-1 (11-10, 2-11, 11-10) semifinal defeat against Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong and Lee Ka Yi at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. The result marks the sixth Asian Games medal for 40-year-old Chinappa.

In boxing, Uttarakhand’s Kapil Pokhariya registered a 5-0 win over Iran’s Sam Estaki in the men’s 90kg class to enter the quarterfinals. However, Jadumani Singh exited the men’s 55kg category after a 0-3 loss to the Philippines' Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Carlo Paalam.

India’s table tennis campaign ended with a single medal—a mixed doubles bronze won by Manush Shah and Diya Chitale—after Shah and Yashaswini Ghorpade lost their respective singles pre-quarterfinal matches on Saturday. Additionally, India’s canoeing and fencing teams concluded their runs without adding to the medal haul.

Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.