India won the Gold medal in the Women’s 4 x 400 m relay race at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday. The team comprised Kiran, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi and Vithya Ramaraj.
The Indian team won the top prize with a time of 3:29.69 minutes, giving the country its first gold medal in track and field events at the ongoing Games. Bahrain and China finished second and third, with timings of 3:30.21 and 3:31.02, respectively.
ndia began in lane six, with Kiran running the opening leg. She handed over in third place, before experienced campaigner Poovamma produced a strong second leg to bring India firmly into medal contention.
Prachi then kept India in the fight for gold on the third leg, handing the baton to Vithya in a competitive position. The national
record holder in the 400m hurdles then produced the decisive finish.
Vithya quickly settled into her rhythm and began closing the gap on the leaders. She made her move around the 200m mark and opened up a lead, but Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasr launched a late challenge and began cutting into the deficit.
Vithya, however, had done enough early in the final leg to withstand the pressure and held on through the closing stretch to seal gold for India.
The victory improved India’s silver-medal finish in the women’s 4x400m relay from the previous Asian Games and brought a golden end to the team’s campaign.
The gold also gave Vithya her third medal of the Games, adding to the silver and bronze she had won in her other events.
This was India’s 12th medal and seventh Gold in the event at the Games, making it one of the most successful for the country. Later, the men’s contingent secured Bronze in the 4 x 400 m relay race.
