Puri hails India's Mixed 4×400m Relay Silver at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri praised the Indian mixed 4×400m relay team of Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj for winning silver at the Asian Games 2026, calling it 'a proud silver moment for India.'
Key Takeaways
Silver medal : India's mixed 4×400m relay team won silver at the Asian Games 2026 .
Four athletes : Manu TS , Poovamma MR , Vishal TK , and Vithya Ramraj formed the relay quartet.
Ministerial acknowledgement : Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri publicly congratulated the team on 24 September 2026 .
Poovamma MR is a veteran relay specialist with prior Asian Games and Commonwealth Games experience.
Vithya Ramraj is a 400m hurdler who has become a fixture in India's relay squads.
The result adds to India's ongoing 2026 Asian Games medal tally with track events still remaining.
Four athletes, one baton, one silver — and a proud nation watching. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to X on Thursday, 24 September 2026 to congratulate the Indian mixed 4×400m relay quartet of Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj for clinching a silver medal at the #AsianGames2026.
Puri described it as 'a proud silver moment for India,' praising the team for delivering 'a composed and determined performance.' The minister extended 'heartiest congratulations to the quartet on their achievement' and expressed hope that 'their success may inspire many more to pursue excellence and bring glory to the nation.'
The quartet that ran for silver
Poovamma MR is one of India's most experienced relay runners, a seasoned 400m specialist who has represented the country at multiple Asian Games and Commonwealth Games cycles. Vithya Ramraj has built her reputation as a 400m hurdler and relay anchor, consistently featuring in India's track ambitions on the continental stage. Manu TS and Vishal TK complete a balanced four-person unit that, together, executed the race with enough control and tempo to finish on the podium.
The Mixed 4×400m Relay — an event that blends two male and two female legs — has become one of the more watched track disciplines at continental games, demanding not just individual speed but seamless coordination across genders and change-zones. India securing silver here underlines the country's growing depth in the 400m discipline.
India's track ambitions on the continental stage
India has participated in the Asian Games since 1951, and success in relay events has become a recurring thread in the country's track and field story. Cabinet ministers routinely celebrate athlete performances on social media — a practice that both amplifies the athletes' achievements and signals political endorsement of sporting excellence.
With events still to be contested, every relay medal adds tangible weight to India's final 2026 Asian Games tally. For a nation that has been investing steadily in athletics infrastructure and coaching, a silver in a mixed relay is not just a result — it is evidence of a pipeline.
Four athletes crossed finish lines in a faraway stadium. A minister posted. And for a moment, the country paused to notice. The question now is how many more of those moments India's track squad can produce before the closing ceremony.
Point of View
A senior BJP leader with a diplomatic background, the congratulatory post is also consistent with the government's effort to project soft power through sport. India's relay medal depth at the 2026 Asian Games suggests that investment in 400m-specialist athletes and mixed-format events is beginning to pay dividends. The real test will be whether this generation of relay runners can convert continental silver into podium finishes at the next World Athletics Championships or the 2028 Olympics cycle.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won silver in the Mixed 4x400m Relay at Asian Games 2026?
India won silver in the Mixed 4×400m Relay at Asian Games 2026. The quartet comprised Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj.
Who is Vithya Ramraj?
Vithya Ramraj is an Indian track athlete specialising in the 400m hurdles who has also represented India in mixed relay events at continental competitions.
What did Hardeep Singh Puri say about India's Asian Games relay silver?
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri called it 'a proud silver moment for India,' praised the team's 'composed and determined performance,' and expressed hope their success would inspire others to pursue excellence.
When are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are underway in September 2026, with India competing across multiple disciplines including track and field events.
