India win silver in mixed 4x400 relay, lose out on gold as Bahrain set Games Record

India's mixed 4x400m relay team comprising of Vishal TK, Vithya Ramraj, Manu Saji and MR Poovamma won a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 clocking 3 minutes 14.46 seconds.

Bahrain bagged the gold medal with a games record clocking at 3 minutes 12.87 seconds. With 3:14.54 Vietnam won the bronze medal, just .08 seconds behind India.

ALSO READ: Anantjeet, Parinaaz bag bronze in skeet mixed team despite levelling scores with Korea, here's why!

Manu wasn't at her best and Poovamma couldn't manage to pick up pace either. At one point, it seemed that India may miss out on a medal but a burst of pace put India in contention. Then Vishal kept up the pace before handing the baton to Vithya who was only beaten by Salwa Eid Nasser. She edged past the Vietnamese to ensure India bag a silver medal.

"We were expecting a gold. But of course, Bahrain, we were expecting a tough fight. But we all ran really good," Poovamma said.

"So, in the women's 400 relay, we want to win a gold, change the color of the medal."

3rd consecutive Asian Games medal

In the previous edition, India had bagged a silver medal as well. Muhammed Ajmal, Vithya Ramraj, Rajesh Ramesh and Subha Venkatesan had set a national record then. In the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, India had won a gold medal (which was upgraded from silver). Muhammad Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv had achieved the feat.

ALSO READ: Roshibina Devi misses out on gold but secures 3rd consecutive Asian Games medal, addresses selection controversy

This is India's ninth silver medal in Asian Games. A few minutes before, Seema Kumari had bagged a bronze medal in women's 10,000m, ending 16-year-wait. So far, India have just one gold medal along with seven bronze.

Animesh, Gurindervir in medal contention

Meanwhile, Animesh Kujur inched closer to a medal by finishing third in Round one Heat 1 of men's 100m by clocking 10.36 seconds. Animesh has advanced the to semifinals. Going ahead, Thailand's Puripool Boonson will be a threat as he clocked 9.95 seconds to finish at top of Heat 1. Another India who had it to the semifinals is Gurindervir Singh with 10.38 seconds. The semifinals will take place on September 25.