Asian Games 2026: Vithya wins mixed relay silver, dedicates it to twin sister Nithya
Synopsis
Vithya's silver in Nagoya was more than a podium finish — it was a promise kept to her twin sister Nithya, who qualified for 2023 but missed 2026. With India maintaining its mixed 4x400m relay medal streak across three straight Asian Games, and a Games-record set by Bahrain just out of reach, Vithya's story is one of the standout human moments of the 2026 Games.
Key Takeaways
India won silver in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya , clocking 3:14.46 .
Bahrain took gold in a Games-record 3:12.87 ; Vietnam finished third in 3:14.54 .
The quartet comprised Machettira Poovamma , Vishal Thennarasu , Ramraj Vithya , and Thekkinalil Manu .
Vithya dedicated the medal to her twin sister Nithya Ramraj , who did not qualify for the 2026 edition .
India has now won a medal in this event at three successive Asian Games — gold in Jakarta 2018 , silver in Hangzhou 2023 , and silver in Nagoya 2026 .
Ramraj Vithya dedicated India's silver medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya to her twin sister Nithya Ramraj, saying she felt her sibling's absence deeply and had entered the Games determined to better the colour of her medal from the previous edition.
How the race unfolded
The Indian quartet — Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya, and Thekkinalil Manu — clocked 3:14.46 to claim silver. Bahrain took gold in a Games-record 3:12.87, while Vietnam narrowly missed the podium, finishing third in 3:14.54. India's silver continues a remarkable streak — the country has won a medal in this event at three successive Asian Games, following gold at Jakarta 2018 and silver at Hangzhou 2023.
A personal dedication
Nithya Ramraj, herself an athlete, had competed alongside Vithya at the previous Asian Games but failed to qualify for the 2026 edition. 'Last Asian Games, my twin sister was with me, so this time I miss her so much, so I dedicated my medal to her,' Vithya said after the race. The silver carried a dual motivation — a tribute to family and a pursuit of personal progression. 'Last Asian Games, I won three medals, so this Asian Games, I tried to change my medal colour, that's all,' she added.
The role of her coach
Vithya credited coach Bhanot as a pivotal factor in her performance, contrasting his presence at Nagoya 2026 with his absence at the previous edition. 'This Asian Games, my coach is with me. He was watching me; he was telling me, 'You can do it',' she said. She described a focused race strategy built around her coach's instructions, saying she kept her eyes on him rather than on competitors during her leg. Even after a fall during the relay, Vithya said she stayed composed: 'My coach said, 'Just run your leg; you get a baton. Just run the race, nothing else.' So I just fixed my mind: just go through, finish line, so I did my best.'
Institutional support acknowledged
Vithya also expressed gratitude to the Athletics Federation of India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), her state government, and Indian Railways for their backing. 'They believe in me. I want to give 100 per cent to them also, because they are spending a lot, everything, on us,' she said. The acknowledgement underscores the layered infrastructure — central, state, and institutional — that has supported India's growing depth in track athletics at the continental level.
Point of View
SAI, and federation-level coaching support. Yet the Bahrain gap of nearly two seconds points to a ceiling India has not yet broken through. The human story of a twin's absence adding fuel to a competitor's drive is compelling, but the structural story — whether India can graduate from silver-level Asian contender to gold-medal favourite — remains unresolved. The answer may depend on whether institutional support translates into year-round, coach-led technical refinement rather than peaking for marquee events alone.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did India win in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games?
India won the silver medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, clocking 3:14.46. Bahrain took gold in a Games-record 3:12.87, and Vietnam finished third in 3:14.54.
Who ran in India's 4x400m mixed relay team at Nagoya 2026?
The Indian quartet comprised Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thennarasu, Ramraj Vithya, and Thekkinalil Manu. Vithya anchored the team's final leg and was among the key performers in securing silver.
Why did Vithya dedicate her medal to her twin sister?
Vithya dedicated the silver to her twin sister Nithya Ramraj, who competed alongside her at the previous Asian Games but failed to qualify for the 2026 edition. Vithya said she missed her sister's presence deeply and wanted the medal to be a tribute to her.
How has India performed in the mixed 4x400m relay across Asian Games editions?
India has now won a medal in the event at three consecutive Asian Games — gold at Jakarta 2018, silver at Hangzhou 2023, and silver at Nagoya 2026. It marks one of the country's most consistent streaks in track athletics at the continental level.
What role did Vithya's coach play in her performance at the 2026 Asian Games?
Vithya credited coach Bhanot for keeping her focused during her leg of the relay, noting he had not been present at the previous edition. She said she concentrated on his face and instructions rather than watching competitors, which helped her stay composed even after a fall during the race.
