Athletics – India’s Women Sprinters Shine with Relay Gold at Asian Championships
Athletics – India celebrated a memorable achievement at the Asian Relay Championships 2026 as the women’s 4x100m relay squad delivered an outstanding performance to secure the gold medal with their fastest time of the season.
Representing the country, Srabani Nanda, Sneha Shanuvalli, Sudeshna Shivankar and Tamanna combined effectively to cross the finish line in 43.85 seconds, earning top honours in the event. The victory highlighted the team’s growing strength on the continental stage and marked one of India’s standout performances at the competition.
Season-Best Run Secures Top Spot
The Indian quartet produced a smooth and disciplined race from start to finish, maintaining momentum through each baton exchange. Their effort resulted in a season-best timing, allowing them to finish ahead of strong challenges from other leading Asian nations.
China claimed the silver medal after recording 44.09 seconds, while Thailand settled for bronze with a time of 44.11 seconds. The narrow margins between the medal-winning teams reflected the highly competitive nature of the final.
The relay team was guided by coach Martin Owens, who has been working closely with the athletes through the Reliance Foundation programme.
Tamanna and Sneha Add to Medal Collection
For Tamanna and Sneha Shanuvalli, the gold medal capped a successful campaign. Both athletes concluded the championships with two medals each after contributing to India’s bronze-winning performance in the mixed 4x100m relay earlier in the tournament.
They had teamed up with Animesh Kujur and Pranav Gurav in that event, helping India secure a place on the podium during the opening stages of the championships.
4x400m Teams Miss Out on Medals
While the sprint relay team enjoyed success, India’s men’s and women’s 4x400m relay squads were unable to repeat the medal-winning performances achieved at the inaugural edition of the championships in 2024.
The women’s team featuring M R Poovamma, Rashdeep Kaur, Ansa Babu and Saloni Nagar finished fourth after clocking 3:47.22. Vietnam dominated the event and captured the gold medal with a winning time of 3:31.16.
In the men’s 4x400m relay, Theerthesh P Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Suraj Alagar Raja and Barath Sridhar ended the race in fifth position. The Indian team recorded 3:05.33, while Vietnam once again emerged victorious by finishing in 3:02.60.
Three-Medal Finish for India
India concluded the Asian Relay Championships with a total haul of three medals. The country collected one gold, one silver and one bronze across various relay disciplines.
The mixed 4x400m relay team delivered a silver-medal performance, while the mixed 4x100m relay squad earned bronze. These achievements, combined with the women’s sprint relay gold, ensured a productive campaign for the Indian contingent.
India did not participate in the men’s 4x100m relay competition because of injury concerns within the squad.
Focus Shifts to Upcoming Major Events
The championships provided valuable competitive exposure ahead of a packed athletics calendar. Indian athletes will now turn their attention toward upcoming international events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The nation is also preparing to host the next edition of the Asian Relay Championships in 2027, with Chandigarh scheduled to welcome teams from across the continent. The hosting rights underline India’s growing role in regional athletics and offer another opportunity for the country’s relay teams to build on their recent progress.