India Athletics: India Wins Relay Silver as Seema Ends 16 Year 10,000m Medal Wait

India Athletics: India’s athletics campaign at the 2026 Asian Games has got off to a medal winning start, with the country collecting silver in the mixed 4x400m relay and bronze in the women’s 10,000m. The two results took India’s overall medal count to 17.

The mixed relay team of M R Poovamma, Manu TS, Vishal Thennarasu and Vithya Ramraj finished second after clocking 3:14.46. Bahrain took the gold in 3:12.87, setting a Games record, while the bronze went to the team that finished in 3:14.54.

Vithya Ramraj played an important role during the final leg, helping India hold on to the silver position in the closing stages. The result also means India has retained the mixed 4x400m silver medal it won at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

The other major moment came in the women’s 10,000m, where Seema Kumari secured bronze with a time of 32:50.05. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold in 32:39.18, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka finished second in 32:41.54.

Seema’s result ended India’s 16 year wait for a medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games. The country’s previous medals in the event came at the 2010 Games, when Preeja Sreedharan won gold and Kavita Raut took silver.

Seema stayed close to the leading runners for much of the race. She eventually moved back into third place with the finish approaching and managed to protect her position until the line. Her final time left her 10.87 seconds behind gold medallist Winfred Yavi.

The bronze also became India’s first athletics medal at the ongoing Asian Games. With the relay silver coming soon after, the track and field events have already contributed two medals to the Indian campaign.

India’s medal tally now stands at 17, comprising one gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals, according to the latest standings.

The athletics results add another notable chapter to India’s campaign in Nagoya, with more track and field events still to come at the Games.