The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has identified the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays as key medal prospects for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, following a string of promising performances on both domestic and international stages.
AFI officials are hopeful that both relay squads can secure podium finishes at the Games, which are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The optimism comes largely from the impressive run by the Indian men’s 4x100m team earlier this year. In April, the quartet of Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain clocked 38.69 seconds—breaking the long-standing national record of 38.89 seconds, which was set during the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
When compared to the times recorded by the medalists at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India’s current form looks encouraging. China took gold that year with 38.29 seconds, followed by Japan (38.44) and South Korea (38.74). India’s new national record places them within striking distance of the podium.
In the women’s 4x100m event, China won gold at the 2022 Games with a time of 43.39 seconds. While India hasn’t fielded a 4x100m relay team in either of the last two Asian Games (2018 and 2022), the AFI is now keen to re-enter the competition with a stronger squad. The last appearance by an Indian women’s 4x100m relay team at the Asian Games was back in 2014 in Incheon, where Sarbani Nanda, Asha Roy, Sharadha Narayana, and H M Jyothi finished sixth with a time of 44.91 seconds.
On the men’s side, India last competed in the Asian Games 4x100m relay in 2010 in Guangzhou. The team, consisting of Rahamatulla Molla, Sathya Suresh, Shameer Mon, and Najeeb Qureshi, finished just outside the medal bracket in fourth place with a time of 39.10 seconds.
With renewed focus and improved performances, the AFI is now aiming to put both relay teams back in medal contention for 2026.
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