Asian Games 2026: India wins silver in mixed 4x400m relay with 3:14.46
Synopsis
India's mixed 4x400m relay quartet held off Vietnam by just 0.08 seconds to claim silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya — a third consecutive Asian Games medal in this event. The performance was anchored by national record-holder Vishal Thennarasu, who earlier this year became the first Indian to break the 45-second barrier in the 400m.
Key Takeaways
India clocked 3:14.46 to win silver in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on 24 September 2026 .
Bahrain won gold in a games-record 3:12.87 ; India edged Vietnam (3:14.54) by just 0.08 seconds .
India has now medalled in the mixed 4x400m relay at three consecutive Asian Games — gold (2018), silver (2023), silver (2026).
Vishal Thennarasu became the first Indian to break 45 seconds in the 400m this year, clocking 44.98 at Ranchi.
Machettira Poovamma , an Arjuna Award recipient, extended her Asian Games legacy spanning gold medals from 2014 and 2018 .
Ramraj Vithya and Thekkinalil Manu also contributed with strong international pedigrees, including Olympic and Asian U20 gold medal experience.
India clinched the silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, 24 September, clocking 3:14.46 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. The quartet finished second behind Bahrain, who set a games-record time of 3:12.87 to take gold.
A Razor-Thin Podium Finish
The Indian team of Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thennarasu, Ramraj Vithya, and Thekkinalil Manu held off a fierce challenge from Vietnam, who clocked 3:14.54 — just 0.08 seconds behind India. Japan finished fourth in 3:15.52. The narrow margin underscored the intensity of the contest, with three nations separated by under a second for the final two podium spots.
India's Medal Streak in This Event
The silver extends India's remarkable consistency in the mixed 4x400m relay at the Asian Games. India won gold at Jakarta 2018, took silver at Hangzhou 2023, and have now earned a medal at three successive editions of the Games — a record that speaks to the depth of India's relay programme over the past eight years.
Standout Performers in the Quartet
Vishal Thennarasu, the Tamil Nadu sprinter, has been in a breakout phase. He became the first Indian athlete to break the 45-second barrier in the men's 400m, clocking 44.98 seconds at the 2026 National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi, setting a new national record. He had previously 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.
Ramraj Vithya brought Olympic experience to the team, having represented India in the 4x400m relay at Paris 2024. She also won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2022 Asian Games and bronze in the 400m hurdles at the 2023 Asian Games.
Machettira Poovamma, an Arjuna Award recipient, is one of India's most decorated relay runners. She won Asian Games gold in the women's 4x400m relay at Incheon 2014 and Jakarta 2018, and was part of India's gold-winning mixed relay team at Jakarta. Thekkinalil Manu (Manu Saji), an emerging quarter-miler, had earlier won gold in the mixed relay at the 2022 Asian U20 Athletics Championships.
Broader Context for Indian Athletics
The result reflects a broader upswing in Indian track and field at the continental level. With a new national record in the individual 400m already set this year and consistent relay medals across Asian Games editions, Indian quarter-milers are establishing a competitive identity that few would have predicted a decade ago. The performance at Nagoya builds momentum ahead of future global qualifying cycles.
Point of View
Continuity, and a national record that now sits below 45 seconds. What the Nagoya silver also reveals is that the gap between India and Bahrain (roughly 1.6 seconds) remains real and needs addressing if a gold is the ambition. The broader question is whether Athletics Federation of India's relay camps can now extend this consistency to the individual 400m at global — not just Asian — level.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did India clock in the mixed 4x400m relay at Asian Games 2026?
India clocked 3:14.46 in the mixed 4x400m relay final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on 24 September, finishing second behind Bahrain who set a games-record of 3:12.87.
Who were the four athletes in India's mixed relay team at Asian Games 2026?
The quartet comprised Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thennarasu, Ramraj Vithya, and Thekkinalil Manu. All four have significant international relay experience at Asian Games, Asian Athletics Championships, or Olympic level.
How many Asian Games medals has India won in the mixed 4x400m relay?
India has won medals in the mixed 4x400m relay at three consecutive Asian Games — gold at Jakarta 2018, silver at Hangzhou 2023, and silver again at Nagoya 2026.
What is Vishal Thennarasu's national record in the 400m?
Vishal Thennarasu set a national record of 44.98 seconds in the men's 400m at the 2026 National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi, becoming the first Indian to break the 45-second barrier in the event.
Where did Vietnam and Japan finish in the mixed 4x400m relay final?
Vietnam finished third — narrowly missing silver after clocking 3:14.54, just 0.08 seconds behind India. Japan finished fourth in 3:15.52.
