Nagoya: India added another major achievement to its Asian Games 2026 campaign as the women’s 4x400m relay team secured the gold medal in a closely contested final on Tuesday. The quartet of Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramraj completed the race in 3:29.69, finishing ahead of Bahrain and China.
The victory delivered India’s first athletics gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and added another highlight to an eventful day for the country’s track and field contingent.
India Finish Ahead of Bahrain and China
The Indian team produced a composed performance across all four legs of the relay. India clocked 3:29.69 to take the top position, while Bahrain finished second with 3:30.21 and China secured the bronze medal after recording 3:31.02.
The race remained competitive through the final stages, but India maintained its position and successfully finished at the top of the podium. The result also added an important gold medal to India’s athletics campaign after the country had already collected several medals in track and field events.
Vithya Ramraj Delivers Strong Final Leg
A major talking point from the race was Vithya Ramraj’s final-leg performance. She entered the relay following an impressive individual outing in the women’s 400m hurdles, where she won bronze and recorded 54.75 seconds, breaking the long-standing national record previously held by P.T. Usha.
Ramraj carried that momentum into the relay and helped India protect its position during the decisive final stage. The gold medal became her third medal of the 2026 Asian Games, adding a gold to the silver she won in the mixed 4x400m relay and the bronze from the 400m hurdles.
Poovamma Adds Another Chapter to Relay Career
The victory was also significant for Machettira Poovamma, one of India’s experienced quarter-milers. She has previously been part of India’s successful women’s 4x400m relay teams at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games, making this latest gold another important achievement in her international career.
Her experience proved valuable as the Indian quartet navigated a strong field featuring competitive teams from Bahrain and China.
Strong Day for Indian Athletics
The women’s relay gold came during a productive day for Indian athletics at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. India also collected medals in several other events, including the men’s 5,000m, women’s high jump and mixed 4x100m relay. Gulveer Singh also completed a three-medal campaign at these Games with a bronze in the 5,000m.
The women’s 4x400m relay triumph, however, stood out as India’s first athletics gold of the competition.
A Significant Gold for India
The performance of Kiran Pahal, Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramraj has given India another memorable moment at the Asian Games 2026. Their 3:29.69 finish not only secured the gold medal but also demonstrated the depth and competitiveness of India’s women’s relay squad.
With the Aichi-Nagoya Games continuing, the relay victory adds further momentum to India’s athletics campaign and places the women’s 4x400m team among the standout performers of the competition.
