Women’s 4x400m relay gives India first athletics gold at 2026 Asian Games

Indian athletes continued their medal run in athletics at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with the team of Kiran Pahal, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi, Vithya Ramraj winning gold in the women’s 4x400m relay on Tuesday.The Indian quartet clocked 3:29.69 to finish first.Kiran had a slow start and passed the baton in third place. Poovamma then equalized to put India in the lead before Prachi ensured Vithya got the baton in a similar position.Vithya then produced a strong final stretch to maintain his lead. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasser, who received the baton last, chased the runners ahead of her to close the gap on Vithya, but the Indian held on to secure the gold for India. Bahrain finished second and China third.Vithya, who had broken PT Usha’s 400m hurdles record a day earlier, won her third medal of the Games with the relay gold. Women’s 400m final – results

• India: 3:29.69
• Bahrain: 3:30.21 (+0.52)
• People’s Republic of China: 3:31.02 (+1.33)