India opened its athletics campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with impressive podium finishes on the track. During the evening session on September 24, the Indian mixed 4x400m relay lineup delivered a gripping race to earn second place and take home the silver medal. This podium finish arrived shortly after Seema opened the nation's track tally by clinching a bronze medal in the women's 10000m final.
Stunning Fightback Following a Difficult Opening Lap
The Indian quartet featured Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj. The team faced an uphill battle right from the start, as Manu encountered a tough opening lap. By the midway point of the second leg with Poovamma on the track, the Indian unit had dropped back to sixth position, leaving them far behind the frontrunners.
The momentum shifted dramatically during the third leg. Vishal TK unleashed a blistering pace down the back straight, cutting through the field and pulling India right back into contention for the podium. Handing over the baton for the anchor leg, Vithya Ramraj kept up the relentless speed, overtaking Vietnam in the final stretch to secure the runner-up position. The Indian squad clocked a finishing time of 3 minutes 14.46 seconds.
Bahrain Clinches Gold While Vietnam Bags Bronze
Mixed relay events demand exceptional coordination alongside individual speed, bringing together both male and female athletes in a shared effort. Bahrain captured the gold medal after completing the race in 3 minutes 12.87 seconds. Vietnam followed closely behind the Indian squad, registering 3 minutes 14.54 seconds to walk away with the bronze medal.
September 24 proved to be an outstanding day for the overall Indian contingent at the games. Earlier in the day, a bronze medal was secured in rowing, accompanied by a historic silver medal in wushu. The late-evening heroics by Seema Kumari in the 10000m event and the mixed relay team capped off a highly rewarding outing for the nation's athletes.
