Asian Games 2026: Prachi Choudhary wins 400m bronze; Animesh Kujur reaches 200m final
Synopsis
India's athletics brigade delivered a strong Saturday at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 — Prachi Choudhary's 400m bronze took the national tally to 30 medals, while Animesh Kujur bounced back from a 100m disappointment to qualify for the 200m final. With Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah also through to the 1500m final on Monday, India's track programme has rarely looked this active at a single Asian Games.
Key Takeaways
Prachi Choudhary won bronze in the women's 400m at Asian Games 2026 , clocking 53.21 seconds .
India's overall medal tally stands at 30 — 4 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze .
Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) won gold in a new Games Record of 49.20 seconds .
Animesh Kujur qualified for the men's 200m final with a semifinal time of 20.81 seconds .
Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah both advanced to the men's 1500m final , set for Monday .
India's Prachi Choudhary clinched the bronze medal in the women's 400 metres at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan on Saturday, 26 September, clocking 53.21 seconds to finish third and push India's overall medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games to 30. The result takes India's athletics haul to its highest point at these Games.
400m Final: How the race unfolded
Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain dominated the field, winning gold in a stunning 49.20 seconds — a new Games Record. Zahra Jaree Manojan of Iran took silver in 52.38 seconds, while Prachi's 53.21 earned her the bronze. Another Indian runner, Kiran, finished fifth with a time of 53.41 seconds, just outside the medals. Seoyeon Kim of South Korea placed fourth.
India's Overall Medal Count at Aichi-Nagoya
Prachi's bronze lifts India's tally to four gold, 12 silver, and 14 bronze — a total of 30 medals. India's gold medals have come from the men's and women's kabaddi events, the women's cricket team, and the 10m air pistol mixed team event in shooting, where Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh struck gold.
Animesh Kujur Books 200m Final Berth
Sprinter Animesh Kujur advanced to the men's 200 metres final after finishing second in the third semifinal with a time of 20.81 seconds. Puripol Boonson of Thailand topped the heat in 20.10 seconds, setting a new Games Record in the process. Notably, Kujur had earlier missed out on a place in the men's 100m final, making his 200m qualification a significant bounce-back for the Indian sprinter.
1500m: Gulveer and Yoonus Qualify for Monday Final
India secured two spots in the men's 1500 metres final, scheduled for Monday, with Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah both progressing from their heats. Gulveer came third in Heat 2 with a time of 3:45.79, while Yoonus also placed third in Heat 1, clocking 3:45.77. Their joint qualification signals a growing depth in India's middle-distance running.
What to Watch Next
With the 200m final and the men's 1500m final both imminent, India's athletics contingent has multiple medal opportunities remaining at the Asian Games 2026. Animesh Kujur will be the one to watch as he bids to convert his semifinal form into a podium finish.
Point of View
But the composition reveals where the gaps remain. Athletics — historically a weak link — is suddenly delivering multiple finalists in a single day, which is genuinely new. The bigger test is conversion: Kujur's 200m final and the 1500m double-qualification mean India has a rare chance to add track medals, not just field or team-sport gold. Whether the sprinting pipeline has depth beyond one or two names will matter more for Paris 2028 than the medal count here.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Prachi Choudhary perform in the women's 400m at Asian Games 2026?
Prachi Choudhary won the bronze medal in the women's 400m at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, finishing third with a time of 53.21 seconds. Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser took gold in a Games Record of 49.20 seconds, and Iran's Zahra Jaree Manojan claimed silver in 52.38 seconds.
What is India's total medal tally at Asian Games 2026?
India's total medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 stands at 30 — comprising 4 gold, 12 silver, and 14 bronze medals. The gold medals came from men's and women's kabaddi, women's cricket, and the 10m air pistol mixed team shooting event.
How did Animesh Kujur qualify for the 200m final?
Animesh Kujur finished second in the third semifinal of the men's 200m, clocking 20.81 seconds, to secure a place in the final. Thailand's Puripol Boonson topped the heat in a Games Record of 20.10 seconds. Kujur had previously missed the cut for the men's 100m final.
Who are the Indian athletes in the men's 1500m final?
Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah both qualified for the men's 1500m final at the Asian Games 2026, set for Monday. Gulveer clocked 3:45.79 in Heat 2 and Yoonus ran 3:45.77 in Heat 1, both finishing third in their respective heats.
What Games Records were set at the Asian Games 2026 on 26 September?
Two Games Records were set on 26 September at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games: Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain set a new record of 49.20 seconds in the women's 400m final, and Thailand's Puripol Boonson set a record of 20.10 seconds in the men's 200m semifinals.
