Nadda hails India's bronze in Mixed 4×100m Relay at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
India's mixed 4×100m relay quartet — Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Shanuvali Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra — claimed bronze at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda hailed their 'speed, determination and teamwork.'
Key Takeaways
India won bronze in the Mixed 4×100m Relay at the 21st Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
The four athletes who secured the medal were Gurindervir Singh , Sneha Shanuvali Sathyanarayana , Animesh Kujur , and Harita Bhadra .
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda publicly congratulated the quartet by name on September 29, 2026 .
The Mixed 4×100m Relay combines male and female legs, requiring precise baton-exchange synchronisation across genders.
The Asian Games is a quadrennial event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia , held this edition in Japan.
Speed, grit, and a perfectly-timed baton — Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda took to X on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 to applaud the Indian quartet that brought home a bronze medal in the Mixed 4×100m Relay at the 21st Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The four athletes who crossed the line together
The Indian relay team comprised Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Shanuvali Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur, and Harita Bhadra. Four sprinters, one shared mission — and a podium finish to show for it. Nadda praised the result as 'a fine display of speed, determination and teamwork by the Indian quartet.'
The Mixed 4×100m Relay — combining two male and two female legs — is one of athletics' most tactically demanding relay formats. Getting the baton exchanges right across gender transitions demands hours of synchronised training, making this bronze as much a coaching and coordination win as it is a personal triumph for each runner.
Asian Games 2026: India's athletics ambitions in Aichi-Nagoya
The 21st Asian Games, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, mark the quadrennial showcase where India's track-and-field programme stakes its continental credibility. Successive administrations have channelled investment through national sports federations and dedicated training infrastructure to sharpen India's relay squads.
A relay bronze adds collective momentum to an Indian athletics contingent that competes across sprints, middle distance, and field events throughout the Games cycle. With more events still on the programme, every medal on the track fuels the broader narrative of Indian athletics punching harder at the Asian level.
Why a cabinet minister's congratulations carry weight
Nadda's message is not merely ceremonial. As BJP national president and a senior Union minister, his public acknowledgement of athletes by name — rather than as an anonymous 'Indian team' — signals institutional recognition. Being named in a Union minister's post lands differently for young Indian sprinters still building their public profiles.
Wishing the athletes 'continued success in the journey ahead,' Nadda's closing line points forward — these four runners have more road to run, and official India is watching.
Point of View
Personal congratulation — rather than a generic team shoutout — reflects a conscious political effort to personalise the government's association with sporting achievement. The Modi-era BJP has consistently used elite sports milestones to project a narrative of national vigour and investment in youth. A relay bronze in a gender-mixed format also dovetails with the government's 'Khelo India' push to elevate women in competitive athletics. The public visibility Nadda gives these four athletes feeds directly into the ecosystem that sustains their careers and attracts future sponsorship and federation support.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the bronze medal in Mixed 4×100m relay at Asian Games 2026?
Gurindervir Singh , Sneha Shanuvali Sathyanarayana , Animesh Kujur , and Harita Bhadra won bronze for India in the Mixed 4×100m Relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 21st Asian Games (2026) are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , organised by the Olympic Council of Asia.
What did J. P. Nadda say about India's relay team?
Nadda called the result 'a fine display of speed, determination and teamwork' and wished the athletes 'continued success in the journey ahead.'
What is the Mixed 4×100m Relay event?
The Mixed 4×100m Relay is an athletics event where a team combines male and female sprinters — typically two of each — to run a combined 400 metres, passing a baton between legs.
How is India performing in athletics at the 2026 Asian Games?
India's relay bronze in the Mixed 4×100m event is part of the country's broader athletics campaign at the 2026 Asian Games , with the Indian contingent competing across multiple track and field disciplines.
