CM Bhajan Lal Hails India's 4x400 Mixed Relay Silver at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated four Indian athletes — Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj, and Manu T.S. — for winning silver in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, calling it a proud milestone for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
India's 4x400 metre mixed relay team — Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj, and Manu T.S. — won silver at the 2026 Asian Games .
The Games are hosted by Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , the premier quadrennial multi-sport competition for Asian nations.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma publicly congratulated the quartet on 24 September 2026 via X.
CM Sharma credited the team's 'outstanding coordination' and said the win would inspire the next generation of Indian athletes.
The Khelo India programme (launched 2017 ) has been central to building India's middle-distance and relay talent pipeline.
The 2026 Asian Games result positions the relay squad as key contenders for national selection ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics .
Four athletes — Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj, and Manu T.S. — crossed a finish line and lifted a nation's spirits, claiming a silver medal in the 4x400 metre mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was among the first senior political voices to salute the quartet on Thursday, 24 September 2026, calling the achievement a proud moment for Indian athletics.
Silver on the track, a signal on the ground
Writing in Hindi, CM Sharma said the relay team's 'outstanding coordination and brilliant performance on the track has raised the country's honour.' He added that the medal 'will infuse new energy in the athletes of the coming generation' — a nod to the multiplier effect that marquee performances have on grassroots participation across the country.
The 4x400 mixed relay is one of the most tactically demanding events in athletics, requiring each leg runner to carry not just speed but precise baton-passing discipline. Winning silver at a continental championship underlines the depth India is building in middle-distance running, a discipline the country has steadily invested in over the last decade.
The Khelo India thread running through every medal
India's improving athletics footprint at Asian Games editions is closely linked to the Khelo India programme, launched by the Government of India in 2017 to identify and nurture grassroots talent. The pipeline it created has steadily fed state-level academies and national camps, producing relay squads capable of competing at the continental level. Each Asian Games medal now carries a paper trail back to district selection trials and scholarship support that Khelo India formalised.
For a state like Rajasthan, where distance running and track athletics have a strong tradition, CM Sharma's congratulations carry a practical dimension too — state governments increasingly co-fund athlete preparation, and public recognition from the Chief Minister signals institutional backing that matters to coaches and selectors alike.
Eyes already on Los Angeles 2028
The 2026 Asian Games serve as one of the last major continental benchmarks before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. A silver in the mixed relay will sharpen the spotlight on all four athletes and push them into serious contention for national trials. The question coaches will be asking now: can this quartet — or a reshaped version of it — close the gap to gold before the Olympic year arrives?
Point of View
But the specific shout-out to a relay squad rather than an individual medallist reflects a maturing understanding that team disciplines deserve equal visibility. For CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, the post also reinforces a soft image-building exercise — projecting Rajasthan's leadership as invested in national sporting ambition. The reference to inspiring 'coming generations' aligns with the central government's Khelo India narrative, suggesting state and centre are keen to share ownership of India's athletics rise. With the 2028 Olympic cycle now in motion, politicians who backed athletes early will be well-positioned to claim credit if the relay squad reaches Los Angeles.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 4x400 mixed relay silver medal at Asian Games 2026?
India's quartet of Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj, and Manu T.S. won the silver medal in the 4x400 metre mixed relay event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are hosted by Aichi-Nagoya in Japan.
What did Bhajan Lal Sharma say about India's Asian Games relay medal?
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said the athletes' 'outstanding coordination and brilliant performance on the track has raised the country's honour' and that the achievement would inspire the next generation of Indian athletes.
What is the Khelo India programme and how does it relate to track athletics?
Khelo India was launched by the Government of India in 2017 to promote grassroots sports development and identify talent for international competitions; it has helped build the talent pipeline that feeds India's relay and middle-distance squads.
Will India's 4x400 mixed relay team compete at the 2028 Olympics?
The 2026 Asian Games silver medal positions the quartet as strong contenders for national selection, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics being the next major target on India's athletics calendar.
