India Women Strike Gold in 4×400m Relay at Asian Games
India won gold in the women’s 4×400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with Kiran Pahal, Machettira Raju Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj clocking 3:29.69 in the final.
Bahrain won silver in 3:30.21, while China took bronze in 3:31.02. The victory gave India its first athletics gold of the Games.
The gold was particularly significant for M.R. Poovamma, the experienced 36-year-old quarter-miler from Karnataka. She has now won the women’s 4×400m relay gold at three Asian Games, having also been part of India’s victorious teams at the 2014 and 2018 editions. She has now collected six Asian Games medals overall.
Poovamma began her international career at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Morocco and went on to represent India at the Olympics and major international competitions. Her career has included several injuries and setbacks, and she missed the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Asian Games following a doping-related suspension. Her return to the Asian Games podium with another relay gold marks a significant chapter in her long career.
In the final, Poovamma ran the second leg after Kiran Pahal, helping India move into contention before Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj completed the race. Vithya held off a strong challenge from Bahrain on the final leg to secure the gold for India.
The victory also restored India to the top of the Asian Games women’s 4×400m relay podium after the country finished second behind Bahrain at the previous edition.
Poovamma is the daughter of Machettira Thammaiah (Raju) and Janaki (Jaji) (née Kannikanda).
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