Thursday in Nagoya was a day of nail-biting finishes for Indian athletics. The mixed 4x400m relay team, featuring Vishal TK, Poovamma, Manu, and Vithya Ramaraj, crossed the line in 3:14.46 to take silver. They beat Vietnam’s 3:14.54 by a margin so slim — 0.08 seconds — that you could barely blink before it was over. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasser, anchored by her star power, stormed to gold in a Games-record 3:12.87, leaving the rest to fight for scraps.
The relay wasn’t always pretty. Vishal TK struggled early, and Poovamma’s leg saw India slipping out of contention before she kicked in the final 50 meters. Manu kept them alive in third, setting the stage for Vithya Ramaraj. She’s known for her anchor legs, and she didn’t disappoint. Ramaraj made up ground on the final lap, pulling India into second place with a burst that sealed the medal.
Earlier, Seema Kumari broke a 16-year curse. India hadn’t won a women’s 10,000m medal at the Asian Games since 2006. Kumari stayed steady until the closing stages, watching Winfred Yavi and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka sprint for gold and silver. While they traded blows for first, Kumari pulled clear of the pack to take bronze in 32:50.05. It was a slow build, but the payoff was historic.
Now the focus shifts to the remaining days in Nagoya. With two medals in the bag, the Indian contingent is gaining momentum. Can they add more hardware before the games end? The schedule is tight, and the competition is fierce. Stay locked in.