Daijiworld Media Network - Shangyu
Shangyu, Jun 21: India concluded a successful campaign at the Asian Relays Championships 2026 in Shangyu, China, with a gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay, adding to the silver and bronze medals won earlier in the competition.
The quartet of Srabani Nanda, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar and Tamanna produced a season-best performance of 43.85 seconds to secure the gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay, delivering India's standout moment of the championships.
India had earlier opened its medal account with a silver in the mixed 4x400m relay. The team comprising Olympian MR Poovamma, Neeru Pathak, Theerthesh P. Shetty and Barath Sridhar clocked 3:17.06 to finish second behind Kazakhstan, which won gold in 3:16.75. Host nation China claimed bronze with a time of 3:17.20.
The silver medal marked India's second podium finish in the mixed 4x400m relay at the Asian Relays Championships. The Indian team had previously won gold in the inaugural edition of the tournament held in Bangkok in 2024.
India's national record in the event remains 3:12.87, achieved by Muhammad Anas, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Muhammad Ajmal and Kiran Pahal during the 2024 National Inter-State Athletics Championships.
The country also secured a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay. The team, featuring national 200m record holder Animesh Kujur, Pranav Gurav, Tamanna and Sneha Shanuvalli, finished in 41.47 seconds.
The timing was just 0.12 seconds slower than India's national record of 41.35 seconds, which was set earlier this year at the World Relays by Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha Shanuvalli.
Thailand clinched the gold medal in the event with a timing of 41.14 seconds, while China finished second in 41.29 seconds.
The championships served as a crucial international assignment for India's relay squads as they prepare for a packed athletics calendar that includes the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
India is also set to host the third edition of the Asian Relays Championships in Chandigarh in 2027.
The inaugural edition of the competition was held in Bangkok in 2024, where India won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay and silver medals in both the men's and women's 4x400m events, underlining the country's growing strength in relay competitions.