India Wins Women’s 4x100m Gold at Asian Relay Championships
The Indian women’s 4x100m relay team secured a gold medal at the Asian Relay Championships 2026 with a season’s best performance. The victory highlighted a mixed campaign for the national athletics contingent during the continental track and field event.
Key Highlights
- India clinched the women’s 4x100m title with a season-best time of 43.85 seconds.
- The elite sprinting quartet was trained by Reliance Foundation coach Martin Owens.
- National 4x400m teams missed the podium, finishing fourth and fifth in their events.
- India concluded the competition with three medals overall and will host the 2027 edition.
The Indian women’s 4x100m relay sprint team, featuring Srabani Nanda, Sneha Shanuvalli, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna, recorded a season’s best time of 43.85 seconds. This performance secured the gold medal at the Asian Relay Championships 2026. Notably, the quick quartet was coached by Reliance Foundation coach Martin Owens.
China secured the silver medal with a time of 44.09 seconds, while Thailand claimed the bronze medal in 44.11 seconds. Sprintfast talent Tamanna and teammate Sneha Shanuvalli finished the continental meet with two podium finishes each. Both athletes previously guided India to a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay. That mixed squad also featured sprinters Animesh Kujur and Pranav Gurav.
Disappointment in 4x400m Relays
However, the Indian men’s and women’s 4x400m relay squads were unable to match their podium performances from the inaugural competition in 2024, where both lineups secured silver medals in Bangkok.
During this iteration, the women’s group comprising M R Poovamma, Rashdeep Kaur, Ansa Babu, and Saloni Nagar finished out of medal contention in fourth place with a time of 3:47.22 seconds. The regional title went to Vietnam, who registered a winning time of 3:31.16 seconds.
In the men’s 4x400m division, the lineup of Theerthesh P Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Suraj Alagar Raja, and Barath Sridhar crossed the finish line in fifth place, stopping the clock at 3:05.33 seconds. Vietnam claimed another gold medal in this category by running 3:02.60 seconds.
India’s Overall Performance
India concluded the continental championship with a haul of three medals, consisting of one gold, one silver, and one bronze. The mixed relay squads earned a silver medal in the 4x400m and a bronze medal in the 4x100m events on the opening day of competition.
The nation did not enter a men’s 4x100m team because of roster injuries. The 2026 tournament provided vital preparation ahead of a dense competitive calendar that features the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. India will host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships in Chandigarh.
Future Outlook
The lessons learned at the 2026 championships will shape India’s training regimens as national athletes prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Hosting the 2027 edition in Chandigarh offers India a prime opportunity to build superior sports infrastructure and showcase domestic track talent on home soil.
FAQs
Who was the coach of the gold medal-winning Indian women’s 4x100m team?
The Indian women’s 4x100m relay team was coached by Reliance Foundation coach Martin Owens during their successful championship run.
Which country won the gold medals in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays?
Vietnam secured the gold medals in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay events at the tournament.
Where will the next Asian Relay Championships be held?
The next edition of the Asian Relay Championships is scheduled to be hosted by India in Chandigarh in 2027.
Why did India not participate in the men’s 4x100m relay event?
India was unable to field a competitive team in the men’s 4x100m relay event due to multiple athlete injuries within the squad.
