Nagoya, September 25 (Udaipur Kiran) : Vithya Ramraj made a significant mark at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, securing a silver medal in the mixed 4×400 meter relay. This achievement, which she dedicated to her twin sister Nitya, holds special significance for Vithya, who missed her sister’s presence during the event. Nitya, also an athlete, was unable to qualify for these Games after competing in the previous edition.
The Indian team, comprising Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thenarasu, Vithya, and Thekkinalil Manu, clocked a time of 3:14.46. Bahrain took home the gold with a record time of 3:12.87, while Vietnam finished third at 3:14.54.
Reflecting on her performance, Vithya expressed her determination to improve upon her medal tally from the last Asian Games, where she won three medals. After the race, she stated, “I tried to change the color of my medal this time, and that was my aim.”
The silver medal also served as a reminder of her sister’s absence. Vithya shared, “Since my twin sister was with me during the last Asian Games, I missed her a lot this time, so I dedicated my medal to her.”
Vithya credited her coach for helping her maintain focus throughout the race. She noted that instead of being distracted by competitors, she drew confidence from her coach’s encouragement. “I thank Bhanu Sir, as my coach was not with me in the last Asian Games. This time, he was there, guiding me and telling me, ‘You can do it.’ I just focused on his face and ran,” she said.
When asked about a fall during the race, Vithya emphasized following her coach’s advice to concentrate on completing her leg. “My coach said, ‘Just run your leg; you will get the baton. Just focus on running,’” she recalled.
She also acknowledged the support from the Athletics Federation of India, TOPS, SAI, her state government, and Indian Railways, expressing gratitude for the trust they placed in her.
This silver medal enhances India’s impressive record in the mixed 4×400 meter relay at the Asian Games, marking the third consecutive medal in this event after gold in Jakarta 2018 and silver in Hangzhou 2023.
Thekkinalil Manu Saji, who participated in his first Asian Games, expressed pride in representing India. He contributed significantly to the team’s silver medal win and credited his teammates for their performance. “I give my best for the team. I feel very fortunate to be part of this team,” he said.
The Indian team narrowly edged out Vietnam by just 0.08 seconds, with Manu playing a crucial role in the early stages of the race. He shared that his main focus was to ensure a strong baton handoff.
“I just think about giving the baton first. I do my best to pass it in second or third place, but I try hard,” he concluded.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.