India's mixed 4x400m relay wins Asian Games silver in Nagoya with 3:14.46
Synopsis
India's mixed 4x400m relay unit held its nerve by just 0.08 seconds to edge Vietnam for silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya — making it three straight Asian Games medals in this event. PM Modi called it an 'exceptional performance', and with Paris 2024 veterans already in the squad, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic relay challenge is already taking shape.
Key Takeaways
India's mixed 4x400m relay team won silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on 24 September , clocking 3:14.46 .
The quartet — Machettira Poovamma Raju , Vishal Thennarasu , Vithya Ramraj , and Thekkinalil Manu — edged Vietnam by just 0.08 seconds .
Bahrain won gold in a Games record 3:12.87 ; Japan finished fourth in 3:15.52 .
India has now won a medal in the mixed 4x400m relay at three consecutive Asian Games — gold in Jakarta 2018 , silver in Hangzhou 2023 , and silver in Nagoya 2026 .
PM Modi congratulated the team via the PMO's official X post, calling it an 'exceptional performance'.
India's mixed 4x400m relay team clinched the silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Thursday, 24 September, clocking 3:14.46 to finish second in a tense final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the quartet's effort as an 'exceptional performance', with the result extending India's unbroken podium run in this event across three successive Asian Games.
How the Final Unfolded
Bahrain claimed gold in a Games record time of 3:12.87, well clear of the chasing pack. India's margin of victory over Vietnam — who finished in 3:14.54 — was just 0.08 seconds, making it one of the closest battles of the athletics programme. Japan came home fourth in 3:15.52, missing the podium by a slender margin.
The Quartet Behind the Medal
The Indian team comprised Machettira Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj, and Thekkinalil Manu. Each athlete brought significant continental pedigree to Nagoya. Vishal had earlier won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay and silver in the men's 4x400m relay at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where he also finished fourth in the individual 400m event. Vithya, a veteran of the relay circuit, represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the 4x400m relay, and previously won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2022 Asian Games and bronze in the 400m hurdles at the 2023 Asian Games.
PM Modi's Reaction
The Prime Minister's Office posted a congratulatory message on X, stating: 'An exceptional performance by our Mixed 4x400m Relay team! Congratulations to Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK and Vithya Ramraj on winning the Silver medal at the Asian Games. Their speed, coordination and determination made for an exciting race and a proud moment for Indian athletics. May they continue to scale greater heights.'
India's Growing Relay Legacy
The silver in Nagoya is the latest chapter in India's impressive mixed 4x400m relay record on the Asian stage. The country won gold at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, followed by silver at Hangzhou 2023, and now another silver at Nagoya 2026. This consistency — a medal at every Asian Games since 2018 — signals a deepening pool of relay talent and a structured relay programme that is beginning to bear sustained fruit. Notably, this is the third consecutive major continental event at which the mixed relay unit has reached the podium.
What Comes Next
With the Paris 2024 Olympic experience already behind key members like Vithya, attention will now turn to qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the mixed relay format will again feature. Continued investment in relay training and depth will be critical if India is to challenge the top Asian nations — and eventually close the gap on global leaders — in what remains one of track and field's most tactical disciplines.
Point of View
Secured by athletes who have competed at the Olympics and multiple continental championships. The challenge now is translating relay consistency into individual 400m medals, a gap that persists. If the Athletics Federation of India can pair this relay culture with stronger individual quarter-milers, the Los Angeles 2028 cycle could see India genuinely competing for Olympic relay qualification rather than simply hoping for it.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did India clock in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games?
India clocked 3:14.46 to finish second in the mixed 4x400m relay final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. The quartet edged Vietnam, who finished in 3:14.54, by just 0.08 seconds.
Who were the four athletes in India's mixed relay team at Nagoya 2026?
The four athletes were Machettira Poovamma Raju , Vishal Thennarasu , Vithya Ramraj , and Thekkinalil Manu . All four have significant experience at Asian and global level competitions.
What did PM Modi say about India's relay silver at the Asian Games?
PM Modi, via the PMO's official X post, called it an 'exceptional performance' and congratulated the team for their 'speed, coordination and determination'. He said the result was 'a proud moment for Indian athletics'.
How does India's 2026 Asian Games relay result compare to previous editions?
India won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, silver at Hangzhou 2023, and now silver again at Nagoya 2026 — making it three consecutive Asian Games medals in this event, the only nation to achieve such consistency in this relay format at the continental level.
Who won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games?
Bahrain won gold in a Games record time of 3:12.87. Vietnam (3:14.54) and Japan (3:15.52) finished third and fourth respectively, with India's silver sandwiched between Bahrain and Vietnam.
