Asian Games 2026: India wins mixed relay bronze with national record in Nagoya
Synopsis
India's mixed 4x100m relay team didn't just win bronze at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya — they broke the national record in the process. Animesh Kujur's raw, emotional tribute — from fans who messaged him after a fall the day before, to a family that once doubted his sporting future — made this one of the Games' most human medal moments.
Key Takeaways
India's mixed 4x100m relay team — Gurindervir Singh , Sneha Sathyanarayana , Animesh Kujur , and Harita Bhadra — won bronze at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 29 September .
The team clocked 41.06 seconds , breaking the previous national record of 41.35 seconds set at the World Relays 2026 in Gaborone .
China won gold ( 40.78s ) and Thailand silver ( 40.87s ).
India also won bronze in the men's 4x400m relay ( 3:01.61 ) and gold in the women's 4x400m relay ( 3:29.69 ) on the same day.
Vithya Ramraj ended the Games with three medals after anchoring the women's relay gold.
Harita Bhadra claimed two medals at her debut Asian Games — bronze in the women's 200m and bronze in the mixed relay.
India's mixed 4x100m relay team clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday, 29 September, breaking the national record with a time of 41.06 seconds. The quartet of Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur, and Harita Bhadra surpassed the previous national mark of 41.35 seconds, set at the World Relays 2026 in Gaborone.
Kujur's Emotional Dedication
Animesh Kujur described the win as the culmination of a year-long preparation, dedicating the medal to the country, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and support bodies including TOPS, Reliance Foundation, and Puma. He also paid tribute to fans who reached out after he suffered a fall during a relay the previous day.
'When Gauri started so well, I understood that we were going to run well. And when Harita finished, I felt so relieved. Like, yeah, finally we did it. Whatever we came here for, we finally did it,' Kujur said.
Reflecting on his family's journey, Kujur — who is currently unemployed — noted that his family had once doubted his sporting path. 'My family always thought that if I don't study, nothing can happen in life. But I moved forward in sports, and today I brought the medal for India,' he said. He added that he hopes to secure a government or public-sector job, naming ONGC, Income Tax, and the state government as potential employers.
Race Conditions and Team Confidence
Rainy conditions in Nagoya tested the team throughout the Games, with Kujur noting it was his seventh time running on the track amid daily rainfall. Despite the disruption, he said the team's collective motivation gave him confidence early. Harita Bhadra, who anchored the relay, said the squad had trained in similar conditions and felt well prepared. 'I'm very happy that this is my first Asian Games and that I could come here and win two medals for India,' Harita said — she had earlier won bronze in the women's 200m.
Gurindervir Singh kept his remarks brief but heartfelt: 'I thank everyone who supported me. This medal has come because of all of them.'
Final Standings and Competition
China took gold with a time of 40.78 seconds, while Thailand claimed silver in 40.87 seconds. India's bronze at 41.06 seconds represented a clear improvement on the national record and underscored the team's growing competitiveness in relay events at the continental level.
Men's 4x400m Relay Also Delivers Bronze
India rounded off their athletics programme with another bronze, this time in the men's 4x400m relay. The quartet of Dharamveer Choudhary, Manu Theekkinil, Jay Kumar, and Vishal Thennarasu clocked 3:01.61 to finish third. Japan won gold in 3:00.75 and Qatar took silver in 3:00.93.
The race saw India slip to fourth during a congested second leg before Jay Kumar pushed the team back into contention. Vishal Thennarasu then delivered a strong closing leg to secure the podium finish. India had entered the final with a season-best of 3:00.32.
Women's 4x400m Team Wins Gold
Earlier on the same day, India's women's 4x400m relay team — comprising Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi, and Vithya Ramraj — won gold in 3:29.69. Bahrain finished second in 3:30.21 and China third in 3:31.02. Vithya Ramraj produced a commanding anchor leg to seal the title, taking her personal medal tally at these Games to three, following an individual silver and bronze.
India's relay-heavy final day in Nagoya marked a strong close to their athletics campaign, with the national-record performance in the mixed relay offering the most vivid sign yet of the squad's relay potential heading into future international competitions.
Point of View
On a seventh-consecutive track appearance, points to conditioning depth that wasn't visible even two cycles ago. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the socioeconomic backdrop: Kujur's candid admission that he is unemployed and eyeing a government job is a reminder that India's medal pipeline still depends heavily on athletes who lack the financial safety net that sustained elite training requires. The relay success deserves celebration — but it also deserves a policy conversation about athlete welfare beyond the podium.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did India break in the mixed 4x100m relay at Asian Games 2026?
India clocked 41.06 seconds in the mixed 4x100m relay final in Nagoya on 29 September 2026, breaking the previous national record of 41.35 seconds set at the World Relays 2026 in Gaborone. The team of Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur, and Harita Bhadra won bronze behind China (gold, 40.78s) and Thailand (silver, 40.87s).
Who were the members of India's mixed 4x100m relay team at Asian Games 2026?
The four athletes were Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur, and Harita Bhadra. Harita Bhadra also won bronze in the women's 200m at the same Games.
How did India perform in the relay events on the final day of athletics at Asian Games 2026?
India had a strong final day, winning bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay (41.06s), bronze in the men's 4x400m relay (3:01.61), and gold in the women's 4x400m relay (3:29.69). The women's gold was sealed by Vithya Ramraj's anchor leg, taking her personal tally to three medals at the Games.
What did Animesh Kujur say after winning the Asian Games bronze medal?
Kujur dedicated the medal to India, the Athletics Federation of India, TOPS, Reliance Foundation, Puma, and his family. He spoke about the team's strong motivation despite rainy conditions and revealed that public support after a fall the previous day had driven him to perform. He also said he hopes to secure a job with ONGC, Income Tax, or a state government.
Who won gold and silver in the mixed 4x100m relay at Asian Games 2026?
China won gold with a time of 40.78 seconds and Thailand claimed silver in 40.87 seconds. India finished third with a national-record 41.06 seconds to take bronze.
