The Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) has congratulated Colonel Shivani Sangwan, a pathologist at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, for achieving a notable milestone at the Silk Route Ultra Marathon held in Ladakh from September 10 to 11, 2026.
Colonel Sangwan completed the gruelling ultra marathon in 21 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seconds, finishing at an altitude gain of around 2,700 metres. Her performance earned her the ninth position among female participants and, more significantly, the distinction of becoming the first woman officer of the Armed Forces to cross the finish line of the challenging event.
The achievement highlights the growing participation of women officers from the Armed Forces in demanding endurance and adventure activities, alongside their professional responsibilities in military medicine and healthcare. Colonel Sangwan’s accomplishment reflects the physical endurance, mental resilience and determination required to compete in an ultra-distance event in the high-altitude environment of Ladakh.
The Silk Route Ultra Marathon presents a particularly demanding endurance challenge, with participants required to negotiate the physical stresses associated with long-distance running while operating in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh. For an Armed Forces officer, successfully completing such an event adds another dimension to the ethos of physical fitness, perseverance and determination that remains central to military service.
Colonel Sangwan’s professional role as a pathologist at Army Hospital (R&R) places her within the Armed Forces medical establishment, where medical officers contribute to the healthcare and readiness of serving personnel and their families. Her performance on the endurance circuit demonstrates the ability of military medical personnel to pursue demanding physical challenges alongside their specialised professional duties.
The DGAFMS recognition of her achievement also underlines the importance attached within the Armed Forces to fitness, resilience and excellence beyond conventional professional benchmarks. Participation in endurance and adventure events can contribute to the development of qualities such as sustained concentration, mental toughness, determination and the ability to persevere through prolonged physical stress.
Completing the event in 21 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seconds was therefore not merely a sporting accomplishment but also a demonstration of endurance in one of India’s most challenging high-altitude environments. The combination of prolonged physical exertion and significant altitude gain makes such an achievement particularly demanding.
Her ninth-place finish among women further adds to the significance of the accomplishment, while her distinction as the first woman Armed Forces officer to cross the finish line establishes a notable milestone in the participation of women officers in ultra-endurance events.
Colonel Shivani Sangwan’s achievement is a reflection of the wider evolution of the Armed Forces, where professional excellence is increasingly complemented by participation in demanding sporting, adventure and endurance activities. Such accomplishments contribute to a culture that encourages personnel to push physical and mental boundaries while maintaining the highest standards of discipline and commitment.
The DGAFMS’s appreciation of Colonel Sangwan recognises not only the result achieved at the Silk Route Ultra Marathon but also the perseverance and determination demonstrated in completing the demanding challenge. Her performance stands as an example of the values of resilience, courage and pursuit of excellence associated with military service.
Her successful finish in Ladakh thus marks a significant milestone for women officers in the Armed Forces and adds another achievement to the growing record of military personnel participating in high-endurance sporting and adventure challenges across the country.
