India’s women’s 4x100m relay team produced a season-best 43.85 seconds to win gold at the Asian Relay Championships 2026, edging China in a tight final and underlining India’s growing competitiveness in sprint relay events.
The Indian quartet of Srabani Nanda, SS Sneha, Sudeshna Shivankar and Tamanna finished ahead of China, who took silver in 44.09 seconds, while Thailand claimed bronze in 44.11 seconds in an extremely close contest.
The result mattered not only for the title but also for the timing: India’s season-best came in a high-pressure race against one of Asia’s strongest sprint relay nations, with the top three separated by just 0.26 seconds.
Season-best run seals gold in a tight 4x100m final
India’s win was built on what the report described as a near-perfect race, highlighted by sharp baton exchanges and a strong finish that helped the team surge past China for the top spot. With the clock stopping at 43.85 seconds, India’s quartet delivered one of their most polished relay performances in recent years.
China’s 44.09 seconds kept them close throughout, but India held on to take gold. Thailand’s 44.11 seconds completed the podium, emphasizing how little separated the medal positions in the final.
The team was coached by Martin Owens of the Reliance Foundation, and the performance was credited to precise execution of their race plan.
More medals across sprint relays for India
The women’s 4x100m gold capped a successful meet for Tamanna and Sneha Shanuvalli, who ended the championships with two medals each. Earlier in the event, they were part of India’s mixed 4x100m relay team that won bronze.
In the mixed 4x100m relay, India’s quartet of Tamanna, Sneha Shanuvalli, Animesh Kujur and Pranav Gurav clocked 41.27 seconds to finish third. Thailand won that race in 41.14 seconds, with China second in 41.29 seconds, keeping the margins tight across the sprint relay events.
India also added a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay. The team of Theerthesh P Shetty, MR Poovamma, Barath Sridhar and Neeru Pathak finished in 3:17.06 seconds, behind Vietnam.
4x400m relay setbacks and India’s overall medal haul
While India’s sprint relays delivered standout results, the championships also included disappointment in the 4x400m relay events. In the women’s 4x400m relay, the Indian team of MR Poovamma, Rashdeep Kaur, Ansa Babu and Saloni Nagar finished fourth in 3:34.88 seconds, missing the podium as Vietnam won gold in 3:31.16.
In the men’s 4x400m relay, India’s team of Theerthesh P Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Suraj Alagar Raja and Barath Sridhar placed fifth with a timing of 3:05.33, with Vietnam again taking gold.
Overall, India concluded the Asian Relay Championships 2026 with a three-medal haul: one gold, one silver and one bronze. The report noted that the absence of a men’s 4x100m team due to injuries affected India’s overall medal potential.
The 2026 edition was also framed as a key preparatory event ahead of a packed athletics calendar that includes the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. India is set to host the Asian Relay Championships in 2027 in Chandigarh.
