Prachi Choudhary wins Asian Games 400m bronze: 'I gave everything I had'
Synopsis
Prachi Choudhary's Asian Games bronze in the women's 400m is more than a podium finish — it is her first individual medal at a senior continental championship, setting her apart from a career built on relay glory. The Paris Olympian clocked 53.21s, and at 29, she is signalling that her best individual running may still be ahead.
Key Takeaways
Prachi Choudhary won the women's 400m bronze at the Asian Games , clocking 53.21 seconds .
Bahrain's Salwa Naser took gold in 49.20s ; Iran's Zahra Zarei Manoujan claimed silver in 52.38s .
The medal is Prachi's first individual continental honour — previous medals came via the 4x400m relay at the 2022 Asian Games and 2019 Asian Championships .
The 29-year-old from Uttar Pradesh is also a Paris Olympics alumna, having competed in the relay at the Paris Games .
She credited Inspire Institute of Sport for consistent support through her training and preparation.
Indian sprinter Prachi Choudhary claimed a historic individual bronze medal in the women's 400m at the Asian Games, clocking 53.21 seconds — a career milestone that the Uttar Pradesh-born athlete described as almost surreal. The achievement marks a significant leap for the 29-year-old, who had previously tasted success only in relay events on the continental stage.
The Race and the Result
Bahrain's Salwa Naser dominated the final, winning gold with a commanding time of 49.20s. Iran's Zahra Zarei Manoujan took silver in 52.38s, with Prachi finishing third in 53.21s to secure India's bronze. The margin between silver and bronze was just over a second, underlining the razor-thin margins at elite Asian competition.
What Prachi Said
'I still can't believe it. This is a moment I have worked towards for a long time. I gave everything I had in that race, and to see it turn into an individual medal for the country means so much to me. It hasn't fully sunk in yet,' Prachi said after the event.
She also paid tribute to her support network, specifically acknowledging the Inspire Institute of Sport, which has backed her through her training and preparation. 'Whatever I have needed, they have always made sure I had it,' she added.
A Career Built on Relay Success
Prachi's individual bronze arrives on the back of strong team performances. She won a silver medal with India's 4x400m relay team at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and had earlier earned relay silver at the 2019 Asian Championships. She is also an Olympian, having represented India in the 4x400m relay at the Paris Games. Notably, this Asian Games bronze is her first individual medal at a senior continental championship — a distinction that sets it apart from her earlier relay accolades.
Eyes on Bigger Goals
Prachi has already signalled that this is not the finish line. 'This medal means a lot to me, but I don't want to stop here. I want to keep working hard and keep improving, so that I can achieve even bigger results for the country in the future,' she said. With Paris experience behind her and a confirmed spot among Asia's top 400m runners, she enters the next cycle of competition with credibility and momentum.
Point of View
She sits at the edge of her prime for a 400m runner, and the gap between her 53.21s and the silver (52.38s) is closeable with targeted training. The bigger question is whether the Inspire Institute of Sport model — high-performance infrastructure in a non-metro setting — can be replicated at scale, because that, more than any single medal, is what will determine India's athletics trajectory at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Prachi Choudhary win at the Asian Games?
Prachi Choudhary won the bronze medal in the women's 400m at the Asian Games, finishing in a time of 53.21 seconds. It is her first individual medal at a senior continental championship.
Who won gold and silver in the women's 400m at the Asian Games?
Bahrain's Salwa Naser won gold with a time of 49.20 seconds, while Iran's Zahra Zarei Manoujan took silver in 52.38 seconds. Prachi Choudhary of India finished third to claim bronze.
What is Prachi Choudhary's athletic background?
Prachi Choudhary is a 29-year-old sprinter from Uttar Pradesh who previously won relay silvers at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and the 2019 Asian Championships. She also represented India in the 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics.
Who supported Prachi Choudhary's training?
Prachi credited the Inspire Institute of Sport for backing her through her training and preparation, saying the institute ensured she had everything she needed at every step of her journey.
What are Prachi Choudhary's goals after the Asian Games bronze?
Prachi has said she does not want to stop here and aims to keep working hard to achieve even bigger results for India in the future. She has indicated that this medal is a milestone, not a finish line.
