Asian Games 2026: Persistence and drama as India’s mixed relay team, Seema win medals

Thirty minutes of persistence on the observe adopted by three of absolute drama noticed day considered one of observe and subject competitors finish with a bronze and silver for India because the nation opened its Asian Games athletics medal tally in Nagoya on Thursday (September 24, 2026).

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The 4x400m combined relay workforce rode on tactical personnel adjustments, spectacular lead-off and anchor legs and a stroke of luck to complete in 3:14.46, incomes silver within the remaining occasion of the day on the Paloma Mizuho stadium. Minutes earlier than, Seema had ended a 16-year drought in 10,000m, prepared herself previous the road in 32:50.05 to come back third.

The Indian quartet of Vishal T.Ok. — India’s solely sub-45-second quartermiler — M.R. Poovamma, Manu T.S. and Vithya Ramraj performed their roles to perfection. Vishal ran with blistering tempo earlier than Poovamma and Manu ensured the workforce didn’t fall too far behind. Vithya, the one surviving member of the workforce that received silver in 2023, kicked in an additional gear, edging previous Vietnam by a mere 0.08 seconds.

Curiously, India was second in its warmth within the morning, clocking 3:16.23, however changed Jay Kumar and Kiran with Vishal and Vithya for the ultimate.

The UAE, which had led for a big a part of the race, fumbled in direction of the top, with Mariam Kareem dropping the baton simply earlier than the ultimate lap. She did attempt to retrieve it and full however the workforce was disqualified by the officers. Regardless that the UAE protested, the outcome stayed. Bahrain, led by the indefatigable Salwa Eid Naser, retained high spot with a brand new Video games report of three:12.87.

Seema wins 10,000m bronze

Seema, in the meantime, grew to become solely the third Indian girl to medal within the 10,000m on the Asian Video games, after Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut’s historic gold-silver double again in 2010. The 25-year-old, competing in her first Asiad, was spectacular as a lot in her endurance to maintain tempo with the lead group — which included the likes of Yavi Winfred, Ruth Jebet and native star Nozomi Tanaka — as her race intelligence.

“I led for the primary couple of laps after which realised that nobody was going to [take the] lead as a result of the perfect runners will at all times watch for the ultimate laps. I modified my technique and determined to run like others as a result of that is my first competitors at this degree,” Seema mentioned.

“At one level, I assumed I might go for the win, however I couldn’t push as onerous because the others did. However now I’ve begun to know the techniques and race technique. The subsequent time, I can’t wait so lengthy to push myself. I’ll use my studying from right here within the 5000m,” she added.

Heartbreak in triple soar; sprinters attain semis

Triple jumper Asha Ilango suffered a heartbreak, coming fourth regardless of a better of 13.83m — it was the identical as Li Yi of China however the Indian missed out on countback.

Li, the reigning Asian champion, had 13.79m as her subsequent finest soar whereas Asha had 13.65m. Niharika Vashisht completed tenth with a finest effort of 13m. Uzbekistan’s Sharifa Davronova defended her title with a large 14.35m, with Huang Yingying of China second with 14.12m.

Each Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh superior to the semifinals from their respective 100m heats. Anamika A.Ok. was seventh in heptathlon after 4 occasions with 3177 factors and Pooja was ninth with 3159 factors.