Athletics / Vithya Anchors India to 4x400m Relay Gold at Asian Games

Nagoya, Sep 29: India’s women’s 4x400m relay team capped their Asian Games campaign with a dazzling display of grit and speed, storming to gold in 3:29.69.

With Vithya Ramraj powering through the anchor leg, the quartet of Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi, and Vithya held off a fierce challenge from Bahrain and China to secure the top podium finish, reaffirming India’s dominance in the event.

For Vithya, the triumph capped a remarkable Games. Already a silver and bronze medalist in individual events, she added a third medal to her tally, underscoring her emergence as one of India’s standout athletes. Just a day earlier, she had rewritten the national record in the women’s 400m hurdles, breaking a decades-old mark.

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India began the relay in lane six, with Kiran entrusted with the opening leg. She handed over in third position, leaving the experienced Poovamma to close the gap. Poovamma responded with a strong second leg, pushing India into contention before passing the baton to Prachi, who had already secured an individual bronze in the 400m. Prachi kept India firmly in the medal hunt, ensuring Vithya received the baton in a competitive position for the anchor leg.

The final lap belonged to Vithya. She quickly settled into her rhythm and made her move around the 200m mark, surging ahead of Bahrain. Salwa Eid Nasr, Bahrain’s star finisher, launched a determined chase, steadily reducing the deficit. But Vithya had done enough early in the leg to withstand the pressure. She maintained composure through the closing stretch, crossing the line first and sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.

The victory improved on India’s silver-medal finish in the women’s 4x400m relay at the previous Asian Games and reaffirmed the nation’s strong tradition in the event. For Kiran, Poovamma, Prachi, and Vithya, the gold was not just a medal but a statement of resilience and teamwork.