CM Fadnavis Hails India's 4×400m Mixed Relay Silver at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Manu TS, MR Poovamma, Vishal TK and Vithya Ramraj on clinching silver in the 4×400m Mixed Relay at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling their performance a source of 'immense pride' for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis congratulated India's mixed relay team on winning silver at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
The medal came in the 4×400m Mixed Relay event, which features alternating male and female runners across four legs.
The four athletes named are Manu TS , MR Poovamma , Vishal TK , and Vithya Ramraj .
India has a relay tradition at the Asian Games dating back to at least the 2010 Guangzhou edition .
Fadnavis used the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat , in keeping with the pattern of political leaders amplifying India's continental sporting results.
A silver medal flash from the track — and Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the first voices to mark the moment. On Friday, September 25, 2026, Fadnavis took to X to congratulate the Indian mixed relay quartet on their 4×400m Mixed Relay silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Fadnavis named each athlete by name: Manu TS, MR Poovamma, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj. 'Your performance has brought immense pride to Indian athletics and given the nation another moment to celebrate,' he wrote, adding the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat.
Four athletes, one silver, and a relay tradition that stretches back decades
India's participation in mixed relay events at the Asian Games has been building steadily since at least the 2010 Guangzhou edition, as the country has invested in relay depth alongside its sprinting and middle-distance programmes. The 4×400m Mixed Relay — which alternates male and female runners across four legs — demands tactical baton management and even pacing across the squad, making a podium finish a collective achievement in the truest sense. Poovamma, one of the veteran names in the quartet, has been among India's most dependable relay performers over multiple continental cycles. The inclusion of younger athletes alongside her signals a generational blend that coaches have been nurturing.Why political congratulations on sporting wins matter at continental level
Indian political leaders have made it routine practice to acknowledge medal results at the Asian Games and other major multi-sport events on social media — a pattern that amplifies reach and signals institutional recognition to athletes who often train under tight resource constraints. Fadnavis, as Chief Minister of a state that produces a significant share of India's athletic talent, brings particular weight to the gesture. The broader backdrop matters here: athletics remains one of the disciplines where India's Asian Games medal count has grown most noticeably over the past three editions, and relay events have been a key part of that story. A silver in the mixed relay adds to that cumulative haul and keeps the track programme in the national spotlight as remaining athletics finals unfold at Aichi-Nagoya. For four athletes who ran their legs under the Asian Games cauldron, a Chief Minister's public salute — by name, not by programme — is the kind of recognition that lands differently than a generic congratulatory post. India just added another silver to its relay story. The baton is passed.Point of View
He signals personal investment in the result and maximises its amplification. The move fits a broader BJP communications pattern of associating party leaders with India's athletic achievements at continental and global events. For Maharashtra specifically, where relay athletes from across regional athletics programmes train and compete, the Chief Minister's public recognition reinforces the state's stake in national sporting success. With the Asian Games athletics programme still live, such statements also keep the spotlight on remaining Indian medal prospects.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the silver medal in 4×400m Mixed Relay at Asian Games 2026?
India's quartet of Manu TS, MR Poovamma, Vishal TK and Vithya Ramraj won the silver medal in the 4×400m Mixed Relay at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, continuing the quadrennial tradition of the continent's premier multi-sport event.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say about India's relay silver?
Fadnavis said the team's performance 'brought immense pride to Indian athletics and gave the nation another moment to celebrate,' personally naming all four athletes in his post on X.
What is the 4×400m Mixed Relay event?
The 4×400m Mixed Relay is a track athletics event in which four runners — alternating between male and female — each run a 400m leg, passing a baton in sequence to complete the full 1600m race.
How long has India competed in relay events at the Asian Games?
India has fielded relay teams at Asian Games athletics events since at least the 2010 Guangzhou edition, building experience across mixed and individual relay formats over successive editions.
