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

The Indian women's 4x400m relay team achieved a historic victory at the Asian Games 2026, securing gold with a time of 3:29.69. Athletes Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, and MR Poovamma expressed their joy and pride in representing their country. This win marks a significant milestone in Indian athletics, showcasing the determination and talent of these athletes. Their emotional journey and dedication to winning gold, despite challenging conditions, highlight the spirit of Indian sports. Read on to discover more about their inspiring triumph and the significance of this achievement.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 30, 2026, 00:23 IST

Historic Victory for Indian Women Athletes

Aichi-Nagoya, Japan - On September 29, the Indian women's 4x400m relay team, featuring Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, and MR Poovamma, celebrated a remarkable victory at the Asian Games 2026. The athletes expressed their joy, highlighting the significance of 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 clocked an impressive 3:29.69 in the women's 4x400m relay final. Bahrain followed closely to take silver with a time of 3:30.21, while China earned bronze with a time of 3:31.02.

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 succeed despite challenging conditions, asserting that Indian women are indeed 'golden girls.' Earlier, the quartet of Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj had won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay final, finishing with a time of 3:14.46.

"This is my sixth medal at the Asian Games. I previously won one bronze and one gold in 2014, and two golds in 2018. Now, I have one silver and one gold. I am incredibly proud and happy, and this is my first gold in athletics. Words cannot express my joy," she stated.

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

Kiran Pahal shared her excitement about winning her first gold medal, focusing on executing a flawless baton exchange to secure the team's victory. She dedicated her achievement to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), her family, and her coach.

"I can't describe the excitement I feel. It feels like a dream. My main focus was on ensuring a smooth baton pass, which would give us the lead and ultimately the 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 a special moment for me. I dedicate this medal to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the government, my family, and my coach," she added.

Prachi Choudhary expressed her determination to win gold after previously 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 win.

"I’m thrilled. In the last Asian Games, I won silver in the relay, which motivated me 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 fueled my determination. I tailored my uniform specifically to ensure I would return with gold, no matter the cost," she shared.

"I aimed to give Vithya as much of a lead as possible since 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, and she maintained it, leading us to gold today," Prachi concluded.