Asian Games 2026: India women's 4x400m relay team delivers first gold in athletics
(Courtesy : Screenshot/SonyLIV)
Bahrain settled for silver with a time of 3:30.21
In a sensational display of speed, grit, and clinical baton exchanges, the Indian women’s 4×400m relay team clinched the gold medal on Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026, clocking a blistering 3:29.69 to reaffirm the country’s status as Asia’s quarter-mile powerhouse.
The quartet comprising sub-51-second sensation Kiran Pahal, veteran campaigner M. R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary, and national record-holder hurdler Vithya Ramraj upgraded India’s silver from the previous edition in Hangzhou, holding off perennial rivals Bahrain and hosts China in a nail-biting finish.
RELATED: Athletics at Asian Games 2026: India’s full list of medal winners, medal tally, results
What transpired on the track?
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Facing stiff competition from Bahrain’s formidable lineup, the Indian runners executed a tactically disciplined race from gun to tape.
Lead-off runner Kiran Pahal leveraged her elite flat 400m pace to ensure India stayed shoulder-to-shoulder with the leaders through the opening bend.
Handing over to M. R. Poovamma, the seasoned campaigner relied on over a decade of championship experience to negotiate traffic smoothly and hold an optimal racing line.
Also Read: Vithya Ramraj smashes PT Usha’s 42-year national record to win bronze in women’s 400m hurdles
Prachi Choudhary sustained that pressure through a resilient third lap, delivering a seamless exchange to keep India in pole position.
Taking the baton for the home stretch, anchor Vithya Ramraj dug deep to hold off a late, surging charge from Bahrain’s final runner, crossing the line by a margin of 0.52 seconds to trigger jubilant celebrations across the Indian camp.
Big boost to India’s overall Asian Games medal tally
The golden triumph provided a massive boost to India’s standing on the official medal tally, cementing track and field as the driving force of the contingent’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
The result elevated India’s overall collection to 50 medals, comprising 6 golds, 21 silvers, and 23 bronzes, pushing the nation into 10th position in the overall medal table.
Athletics alone accounted for 21 of those podium finishes, with this relay crown adding a prized top-step finish alongside previous silvers in the mixed 4×400m relay, long jump, and distance events to cap off a historic Day 13 on the continental stage.
How did India perform in the women’s 4x400m relay event at Asian Games 2026?
India clinched gold in the event, with a timing of 3:29.69, improving on its silver-medal finish from four years ago in Hangzhou 2022.
Who made the podium in women’s 4x400m relay event at Asian Games 2026?
India – GOLD
Bahrain – SILVER
China – BRONZE
Who was in India’s gold-medal winning women’s 4x400m relay team at the Asian Games 2026?
The quartet was Kiran Pahal, M. R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj. They clocked 3:29.69 to win by 0.52 seconds over Bahrain.
What is India’s overall medal tally after this gold at the Asian Games 2026?
India have 50 medals: 6 gold, 21 silver and 23 bronze, placing them 10th in the overall medal table. Athletics alone has contributed 21 of those medals.
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