India sweeps IAU 24H Asia-Oceania C'ship men's podium, wins 5 medals
Synopsis
India didn't just win at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships in Japan — they swept the men's individual podium and took five medals in total, making it three consecutive continental titles in 2022, 2024, and now 2026. Led by Amar Singh Devanda's 282.881 km gold-medal run, this is India's most complete performance yet in 24-hour ultrarunning.
Key Takeaways
Team India won 5 medals at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships in Hirosaki City, Japan on 23-24 May 2026 .
Amar Singh Devanda won individual gold with 282.881 km ; Geeno Antony took silver with 272.894 km — India swept the men's individual podium.
India's men's team claimed gold with a combined 815.833 km , their third consecutive continental team title after 2022 and 2024 .
India's women's team secured team bronze with 667.722 km ; Tenzin Dolma was the top Indian finisher with 228.939 km in fourth place.
The championship featured 81 athletes from 9 federations across the Asia-Oceania region.
Team India scripted history at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships in Hirosaki City, Japan, from 23 to 24 May 2026, claiming five medals — including a clean sweep of the men's individual podium and a men's team gold — to establish themselves as the continent's dominant ultrarunning force.
Men's Individual and Team Dominance
Amar Singh Devanda led the charge, completing 226 laps for a total distance of 282.881 km to claim the individual gold. Geeno Antony secured the silver with 272.894 km across 218 laps. India's men collectively covered 815.833 km, earning the team gold medal and completing an unprecedented podium lockout in the individual event.
Host nation Japan finished with team silver, covering 754.726 km, led by Masaaki Kimoto. Australia claimed team bronze with 732.525 km, anchored by Phil Gore's impressive 253.392 km run.
Women's Category: India Claims Team Bronze
The Indian women's team rounded off a landmark weekend for the federation by securing the team bronze with a combined 667.722 km. Tenzin Dolma was the standout performer, finishing fourth individually with 228.939 km — the highest distance by any Indian woman at the championship.
Japan's Miho Nakata dominated the women's individual event on home soil, covering 261.170 km across 208 laps to win gold by a commanding 20-kilometre margin. Her effort anchored Japan's women's team to gold with an aggregate of 707.357 km. Australia secured the women's team silver with 684.450 km.
What the Athletics Federation of India Said
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) celebrated the result on X, posting: 'History for Indian Ultra Running... Champions of Asia-Oceania yet again! 2022, 2024 & now 2026.' The statement underscores India's consistency at the top of the continental championship across three editions.
Scale and Context of the Championship
The event drew 81 athletes — 39 women and 42 men — representing nine federations across the Asia-Oceania region. Conducted over a gruelling 24-hour window, the championship tests both physical endurance and mental fortitude at the highest level of ultramarathon competition.
Notably, India's back-to-back-to-back continental titles in the men's category — spanning 2022, 2024, and 2026 — signal a structural rise rather than a one-off performance, placing Indian ultra running firmly on the global map ahead of the next IAU World Championships.
Point of View
2024, 2026 — are not a coincidence; they point to a deepening talent pipeline and improved federation support for ultra-distance athletics in India. Yet mainstream sports coverage continues to overlook ultrarunning entirely, leaving athletes like Amar Singh Devanda and Tenzin Dolma without the visibility their performances warrant. India's dominance in 24-hour racing now rivals its track record in traditional long-distance events, and the question is whether the Athletics Federation of India will convert this momentum into structured funding and world championship preparation. If it does not, the risk is that a generation of elite ultrarunners peaks without institutional backing — a familiar story in Indian athletics outside the marquee disciplines.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did India achieve at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships 2026?
India won five medals at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships held in Hirosaki City, Japan, on 23-24 May 2026. The haul included a men's team gold, a men's individual gold and silver, and a women's team bronze.
Who won the individual gold for India in the men's category?
Amar Singh Devanda won the men's individual gold medal, covering 282.881 km across 226 laps in 24 hours. Geeno Antony secured silver with 272.894 km, completing India's sweep of the men's individual podium.
How did India perform in the women's category?
India's women's team claimed the team bronze medal with a combined distance of 667.722 km. Tenzin Dolma was the top Indian finisher, placing fourth individually with 228.939 km.
Is this India's first time winning the IAU Asia-Oceania 24H team title?
No — this is India's third consecutive men's team gold at the continental championship, having also won in 2022 and 2024. The Athletics Federation of India confirmed the hat-trick in a post on X.
Who won the women's individual gold at the championship?
Japan's Miho Nakata won the women's individual gold on home soil, covering 261.170 km across 208 laps — a margin of approximately 20 km over the second-place finisher. Her performance also anchored Japan's women's team to gold with 707.357 km.
