Asian Games 2023: Indian 35km race walk mixed relay team wins bronze

This event is set to debut at the Paris Olympics next year.

India's Ram Baboo and Manju Rani have secured a bronze medal in the 35km Race Walk mixed relay event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. Their remarkable achievement came on Day 11 of the ongoing competition, adding to India's growing medal tally.

This achievement has propelled India to equal its best-ever performance at the Games. The medal count has now reached an impressive 70 to match India's closing tally from the Jakarta 2018 edition of the Games. Ram Baboo clinched the fourth position while Manju finished sixth therefore collectively earning them the third-place prize.

The duo outperformed Hong Kong to secure the third-place spot with a time of 5 hours 51 minutes and 14 seconds. China claimed the top position, completing the race in an impressive 5 hours 16 minutes and 41 seconds while Japan followed closely to secure the silver medal.

Earlier this year, Ram Baboo and Manju Rani made history by setting new national records in the men's and women's 35km race walking events and secured the gold medals on the final day of the National Race Walking Championships held in Ranchi.

The 35 km mixed relay race walk is a road racewalking event that was officially introduced as a standard championship discipline in 2022. It is set to make its debut in the Paris Olympics 2024, featuring a mixed event where a team comprises both a male and female athlete.

As the Day 11 unfolds, Indian athletes will be participating in some exciting finals that guarantee medals in the evening session including the Men’s Javelin throw featuring Neeraj Chopra and the relays .