CM Majhi Hails India's Silver in Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Machettira Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Thekkinalil Manu and Vithya Ramraj on winning silver in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026, praising their speed, teamwork and determination.
Key Takeaways
India won silver in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026 on 24 September 2026 .
The medal-winning quartet was Machettira Poovamma Raju , Vishal Thennarasu , Thekkinalil Manu and Vithya Ramraj .
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi publicly congratulated the athletes via X, calling it 'a remarkable display of speed, teamwork and determination.' Machettira Poovamma Raju is one of India's most experienced 400m sprinters, having represented the country at multiple Olympic and Asian Games cycles.
India has a sustained tradition of 4×400m relay medals at Asian Games editions dating back to at least the 2010 Guangzhou Games .
Formal state or central government recognition for the relay team is anticipated as the next step following the podium finish.
Four Indian sprinters crossed the finish line together — and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was among the first to make sure the nation heard about it. On Thursday, 24 September 2026, Majhi took to X to congratulate Machettira Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Thekkinalil Manu and Vithya Ramraj on clinching the Silver Medal in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at the Asian Games 2026.
A quartet, a silver, and a moment for Indian athletics
The mixed relay — combining two male and two female runners across four legs of 400 metres each — is one of athletics' sharpest tests of individual speed and collective execution. India's four-strong squad delivered both, earning the country a podium finish at the quadrennial continental showpiece organised by the Olympic Council of Asia.
Machettira Poovamma Raju, one of India's most experienced quarter-milers, brings a long pedigree to the baton — she has represented the country at multiple Olympic and Asian Games cycles. Alongside debutants or emerging relay specialists Vishal Thennarasu, Thekkinalil Manu and Vithya Ramraj, the squad turned in what Majhi called 'a remarkable display of speed, teamwork and determination.'
Why political salutes to athletes matter in India's sporting moment
Indian political leaders — from the Prime Minister down to state chief ministers — have made public congratulations on social media a near-ritual after international sporting wins. It is more than courtesy: such posts amplify reach, trigger national conversations and, increasingly, precede formal state or central government recognition, cash awards or felicitation ceremonies. Majhi's post fits that pattern precisely, with the CM extending 'best wishes for many more laurels ahead.'
The 4×400m relay has been a consistent medal-hunting ground for India at Asian Games editions since at least the 2010 Guangzhou Games, making today's silver part of a longer legacy of subcontinental dominance in the event.
What comes next for India's relay squad
Eyes now turn to athlete interviews, medal ceremonies and whether the central or any state government follows up with formal recognition — the usual next beat after a podium finish of this kind. For Poovamma especially, a silver at Asian Games 2026 would be another chapter in a career that has already spanned the continent's biggest stages.
Four runners, one baton, one silver — and a country watching to see whether the relay that brought home this medal can do it all again.
Point of View
Crucially, signal to central government that state leaders are watching for recognition announcements. For Poovamma, the silver adds to a career that has helped normalise Indian women as relay anchors. The deeper story here is whether this podium translates into the institutional backing — coaching, exposure, funding — that turns one silver into a generation of relay runners.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won silver in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026?
India's team of Machettira Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Thekkinalil Manu and Vithya Ramraj won the Silver Medal in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say about India's Asian Games 2026 relay silver?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated the four athletes, calling it 'a remarkable display of speed, teamwork and determination' and wished them many more laurels ahead.
Who is Machettira Poovamma Raju?
Machettira Poovamma Raju is one of India's most experienced 400m sprinters, having represented the country at multiple Olympic and Asian Games editions over her career.
What is the Mixed 4×400m Relay at the Asian Games?
The Mixed 4×400m Relay is an athletics event where a team of two male and two female runners each cover 400 metres with a baton, combining individual speed with team coordination. It is part of the Asian Games athletics programme organised by the Olympic Council of Asia.
When did India win the relay silver at Asian Games 2026?
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi's congratulatory post was made on 24 September 2026, indicating the relay silver was won on or just before that date.
