India continued to add medals in athletics at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya as Prachi secured bronze in the women’s 400m final on September 26. Prachi recorded a time of 53.21 seconds to finish third in the event and add another medal to India’s growing tally.
Bahrain’s Salma Naser won the women’s 400m gold medal with a Games Record time of 49.20 seconds. Iran’s Zahra Zarei Manoujan finished second in 52.38 seconds to take the silver medal. India’s Kiran Pahal was also part of the final and finished fifth with a timing of 53.41 seconds.
The women’s 400m final was one of the key athletics medal events on the Indian schedule for September 26. Both Prachi and Kiran had qualified for the final after competing in the heats on the previous day. Kiran had finished second in her heat with a time of 53.44 seconds, while Prachi progressed after clocking 53.46 seconds.
Prachi’s bronze adds to India’s growing presence in athletics at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games. Indian athletes entered the competition with several medal contenders across track and field events, and the September 26 schedule included multiple finals involving Indian competitors. The women’s 400m final was scheduled for 6:15 pm IST, followed by the men’s 400m final at 6:33 pm IST.
The Indian athletics campaign had already produced several medals before the women’s 400m final. On the earlier day of athletics competition, Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000m, while Manpreet Kaur and Baranica Elangovan secured bronze medals in women’s shot put and women’s pole vault respectively. India had also won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the athletics programme.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor was another major Indian name in action on September 26. The two time Asian Games champion competed in the men’s shot put final alongside Karanveer Singh. Toor entered the competition looking to defend his Asian Games title after winning gold at both the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
The men’s shot put final was one of the main athletics medal events on India’s schedule. Toor’s participation was particularly significant because he had been targeting a third consecutive Asian Games title. He had also won silver in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships earlier in 2026 and entered the Asian Games season with strong domestic performances.
Prachi’s medal therefore came as part of a busy athletics programme for India. The country had several athletes competing across sprinting, field events, middle distance events and combined events during the day. The schedule included the men’s triple jump final, men’s 1500m heats, the men’s decathlon 400m and the women’s 1500m final.
The men’s 400m final was another important event for India later in the evening. Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi, popularly known as Vishal TK, qualified for the final after recording 45.27 seconds in his heat. His qualifying time was the fastest across the three heats, according to reports from the athletics competition.
Vishal had entered the Asian Games after becoming the first Indian man to break the 45 second barrier in the 400m earlier in 2026. He had recorded a national record of 44.98 seconds and was also part of India’s silver medal winning mixed 4x400m relay team at these Games. His qualification made the men’s 400m final another event of interest for the Indian contingent.
For Prachi, the women’s 400m bronze represents a significant result on the Asian Games stage. Her 53.21 second performance placed her behind two strong international competitors in a final featuring athletes from across Asia. Kiran Pahal also remained within the leading group, finishing fifth with 53.41 seconds.
The result also highlights the depth of India’s participation in the women’s 400m. Having two Indian athletes reach the final provided the country with representation in the medal race and ensured that the event remained one of the key athletics moments for India on September 26.
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, with competition continuing through October 4. India sent a large contingent to the Games and is competing across numerous sports. The athletics programme forms an important part of India’s overall medal campaign.
India’s athletics performances are being closely followed because the country has traditionally produced several successful athletes at the Asian Games. The current squad includes established international competitors as well as athletes making their mark at the continental level.
The 2026 edition has also provided opportunities for Indian athletes to build on performances from previous Asian Games. Toor, for example, entered the competition as a two time defending champion, while several younger athletes were looking to win their first Asian Games medals.
The women’s 400m result adds another medal to that campaign. Prachi’s 53.21 seconds was enough to secure third place behind Naser and Zarei Manoujan. Kiran completed the Indian representation in the final by finishing fifth.
The athletics schedule continued after the women’s 400m final, with Vishal TK set to compete in the men’s 400m final. India also had Pooja and Parul Chaudhary scheduled for the women’s 1500m final later in the evening.
The sequence of events means that India’s athletics medal tally could continue to change as more finals are completed. With multiple Indian athletes still competing in medal events, the September 26 programme remained one of the important days for the country’s athletics campaign.
Prachi’s bronze is therefore part of a broader run of Indian athletics performances at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games. Her result, together with the medals won by other Indian athletes during the competition, adds to the country’s overall medal count and provides another podium finish in track and field.
As the Asian Games continue, India’s athletes will remain involved in several events across athletics and other sports. Results from each final will determine the updated medal tally, while the remaining competition will provide further opportunities for Indian athletes to add to their medal collection.
