Four women came together to deliver India a gold medal in the women’s 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, M.R. Poovamma and Vithya Ramraj clocked 3:29.69 to finish ahead of Bahrain and China.

The victory gave India its only gold medal in athletics at the Games.

For Kiran Pahal, reaching the international stage meant overcoming resistance at home.

From a conservative village in Sonipat, Haryana, she began her athletics career with the support of her father, who faced opposition from the community over her decision to pursue athletics.

India Women’s Team Win Silver Medals In 10m Air Rifle, Elavenil Valarivan Bags Two Medals

She later represented India in the 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympics and recorded a personal best of 50.92 seconds in 2024.

Prachi Choudhary earned her place in India’s 400m squad through strong performances in a competitive domestic circuit. In the Asian Games final, she ran the second leg and helped India maintain its position at the front of the race.

M.R. Poovamma brought years of experience to the quartet. The veteran athlete returned to competition after serving a doping ban and going through a difficult period in her personal life.

With support from her family, she rebuilt her career and returned to the podium. She handled the closely contested third leg of the relay.

Vithya Ramraj entered the relay final after an impressive individual campaign at the Games.

A day before the relay, the Coimbatore athlete broke P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.75 seconds and won a bronze medal.

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Sydney Sweeney’s Novig Sports Ad Controversy

She then ran the anchor leg of the relay, holding off Bahrain’s challenge to bring India home in first place. The gold was Vithya’s third medal of the Games, following her bronze in the 400m hurdles and silver in the mixed relay.

India finished the race in 3:29.69, ahead of Bahrain’s 3:30.21 and China’s 3:31.02. The four athletes’ victory added another gold to India’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

As of September 30, India is seventh on the overall medal table with 60 medals, comprising 10 gold, 21 silver and 29 bronze.