Indian Women's 4x400m Relay Team Wins Gold at Asian Games 2026

The Indian women's 4x400m relay team achieved a historic victory at the Asian Games 2026, winning gold and expressing their pride in representing the nation. Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, and MR Poovamma shared their emotional experiences, highlighting their determination and teamwork. This victory marks a significant milestone in Indian athletics, showcasing the strength and resilience of women athletes. Read on to discover their inspiring stories and the journey that led to this remarkable achievement.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 29, 2026, 23:04 IST

Historic Victory for Indian Women

The Indian women's 4x400m relay team, featuring Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, and MR Poovamma, celebrated a remarkable victory at the Asian Games 2026. They expressed their joy over winning gold for their nation and the emotional experience of hearing the national anthem play.

India secured its inaugural athletics gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 when the team of Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary, and Vithya Ramraj completed the race in 3:29.69, finishing first in the women's 4x400m relay final. Bahrain took home the silver with a time of 3:30.21, while China earned the bronze with a time of 3:31.02.

'We Proved We Are Golden Girls'

In an interview, MR Poovamma expressed her pride and happiness after achieving her sixth Asian Games medal, noting that this gold was her first in athletics at the event. She emphasized the team's determination to win despite challenging conditions, declaring that they proved Indian women are indeed 'golden girls.' Previously, the team had also won a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay final, clocking 3:14.46.

"This is my sixth Asian Games medal. I won a bronze and a gold in 2014, two golds in 2018, and now a silver and a gold. I am incredibly proud and happy; this is my first athletics gold medal, and it’s a moment I cannot describe in words," she stated.

"Our sole aim was to win gold, regardless of the rain or wet track. We had to secure the gold, and we proved that we Indian girls are always the golden girls," she added.

Kiran Pahal: 'It's a Dream Come True'

Kiran Pahal shared her overwhelming emotions after winning her first gold medal, focusing on executing a flawless baton exchange to ensure the team's success. She dedicated her achievement to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), her family, her coach, and the government.

"I can't express how excited I am; it's a dream. My focus was solely on ensuring a smooth baton pass, which would give us the lead to win gold. The thought of standing on the podium and hearing our national anthem was exhilarating," she remarked.

"I was in tears because this is my first gold medal. Although I participated in the Olympics in 2024, this is my first gold, and I am extremely happy. I dedicate this medal to the AFI, my family, and my coach," she added.

Prachi Choudhary's Determination for Gold

Prachi Choudhary expressed her determination to win gold after securing silver in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games relay. She focused on establishing a strong lead for her teammate Vithya Ramraj during the final leg, which contributed to their gold medal victory.

"I am thrilled. Last time at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, I won silver in the relay, and I promised myself to bring home the gold this time. Our Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, announced a policy to award the DSP rank to gold medalists, which motivated me to ensure I would return with gold, no matter what," she explained.

"I aimed to give Vithya as much lead as possible, knowing that Bahrain's Salwa Naser is a formidable competitor. My focus was solely on providing a lead, regardless of who was behind or ahead of me. In the end, I pushed hard and gave her the lead, which she maintained, leading us to gold today," Prachi concluded.