Top 5 memorable moments for India in athletics at Asian Games 2026
India won 24 medals in athletics at the Asian Games 2026.
India finished sixth in the athletics medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 with 1 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze medals.
Although India won fewer medals and golds than at the previous edition, the campaign has still been solid, with several athletes rising to the occasion, breaking national records and setting personal bests.
We missed out on some gold medals by some fine margins, but overall there were plenty of positive signs. We also witnessed many firsts for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
India had plenty of memorable moments in athletics, from a double podium finish in the javelin throw to a historic bronze medal in the women’s pole vault. Here are the top five most memorable moments from India’s athletics campaign at the Asian Games 2026.
Indian athletics’ most memorable moments in Aichi-Nagoya
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5. Gulveer Singh becomes the first Indian male athlete to win three medals in athletics at a single Asian Games
Gulveer Singh scripted history at the Asian Games 2026, becoming the first Indian male athlete to win three athletics medals at a single edition. He claimed silver in the men’s 10,000m and 1,500m, along with bronze in the 5,000m.
Gulveer made a strong start to his campaign by winning silver in the men’s 10,000m, improving on the bronze he secured at the previous edition. He then ran the heats of the 1,500m the next day and followed it up with another silver in the final.
The next day, Gulveer competed in his third event and won another medal. Gulveer showed some great determination and grit as he ran four races in five days. That is an incredible feat, especially for a long-distance runner.
4. Parul Chaudhary breaks the 3,000m Steeplechase National Record
Parul Chaudhary won bronze, bettering her own national record in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. She clocked 9:08.67 in her pet event, improving the national record by almost four seconds.
She has moved to 41st in the all-time rankings. She is only the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to feature in the Top 50 of an all-time list in a track and field discipline. Parul then won another bronze in the 5,000m, ensuring another double podium like last time.
3. Vithya Ramraj breaks the longest-standing National Record at the Asian Games
Vithya Ramraj scripted history by breaking the national record in the women’s 400m hurdles, surpassing the long-standing mark held by legendary Indian athlete PT Usha.
Vithya had equalled the national record of 55.43 seconds at the last edition. This time, she etched her name in the record books by clocking 54.75 seconds.
She also won a bronze medal. The 400m hurdles record was broken after 42 years. Usha had set the record at the 1984 Olympics, where she finished fourth.
2. Medal after 44 years in men’s marathon
Sawan Barwal scripted history by winning silver in the men’s marathon, ending India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games medal in the event. The last Indian to win a marathon medal was Hosur Kukkappa Seetarama, who claimed bronze in 1982.
Sawan also became the first Indian to win a medal in the men’s marathon at the Asian Games outside India. In the process, he also broke the national record with a time of 2:11:37.
Sawan had recently broken the 48-year-old national record, clocking 2:11:58, and he has now broken it again within five months.
1. Indian women’s 4×400m relay team are back at the top of Asia
The Indian quartet comprising Vithya Ramraj, Kiran, Poovamma and Prachi bagged the gold medal in the women’s 4×400m relay. They also won India’s only athletics gold at this edition.
After missing out on gold at the previous edition, the Indian team bounced back in style, claiming India’s seventh Asian Games gold in the event.
Just when it appeared that the athletics contingent would have to settle without a gold medal, these four athletes rose to the occasion and delivered when it mattered most.
How many medals has India won in athletics at the Asian Games 2026?
India won 24 medals in athletics at the Asian Games 2026.
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