India win women's 4x400m relay gold at Asian Games 2026

India’s women’s 4x400m relay team won gold on Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, recording a time of 3:29.69. The victory was India’s first athletics gold of the Games.

The quartet consisted of Kiran Pahal, M. R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj; Pahal is described as a sub-51-second performer and Ramraj is identified as a national record-holder in the hurdles. The gold upgraded India’s silver from Hangzhou 2022, and the team held off Bahrain and hosts China in a closely contested finish.

India executed a tactically disciplined race with clean baton changes throughout. Lead-off Kiran Pahal used her flat 400m speed to keep India level with the leaders, M. R. Poovamma relied on her championship experience to negotiate traffic and maintain an efficient racing line, and Prachi Choudhary delivered a strong third leg and a smooth handover to the anchor.

Vithya Ramraj ran the anchor leg and held off a late surge from Bahrain’s final runner, with India crossing the line 0.52 seconds clear of the silver medallists. The final podium read India – GOLD, Bahrain – SILVER, China – BRONZE.

The relay gold added a top-step finish for India’s athletics contingent alongside earlier silvers in the mixed 4×400m relay, long jump and distance events on Day 13. Athletics has been a major source of medals for the Indian team at these Games.

The result lifted India’s overall haul to 50 medals — 6 gold, 21 silver and 23 bronze — moving the nation to 10th place on the official medal table, with athletics contributing 21 of those podium finishes.