Nagoya, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Ramraj Vithya dedicated India’s silver medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2026 Asian Games to her twin sister Nithya Ramraj, saying she missed having her alongside her in Nagoya and entered the competition determined to improve on her medal colour from the previous edition.
The Indian quartet of Machettira Poovamma, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya and Thekkinalil Manu clocked 3:14.46 to finish second behind Bahrain, which claimed gold in a Games-record 3:12.87. Vietnam took bronze in 3:14.54.
Vithya, who won three medals at the previous Asian Games, said she had set herself the target of improving on that performance this time.
“Last Asian Games, I won three medals, so this Asian Games, I tried to change my medal colour, that’s all,” she said after the race.
The silver held special meaning for Vithya because her twin sister, also an athlete, was not part of India’s 2026 contingent after failing to qualify. Nithya had competed at the previous Asian Games.
“Because at the last Asian Games, my twin sister was with me, so this time I miss her so much, so I dedicated my medal to her,” Vithya said.
She also credited her coach, Bhanot, with helping her maintain focus throughout the race. Vithya said that while competing, she concentrated on her coach’s instructions rather than the athletes around her.
“I was seeing my coach’s face; I was not seeing any competitor, nothing. I just saw my coach, then I got the baton, then I ran the race. I fought it up to the finish line,” she said.
Vithya said a fall during the race did not change her approach, as she remained focused on completing her leg according to her coach’s instructions.
“My coach said, ‘Just run your leg; you get a baton. Just run the race, nothing else.’ So I just fixed my mind: just go through, finish line, so I did my best,” she said.
She also thanked the Athletics Federation of India, TOPS, SAI, the state government and Indian Railways for their support, saying she wanted to repay their faith by giving her best.
India’s silver extended its medal-winning run in the Asian Games mixed 4x400m relay, following gold at Jakarta 2018 and silver at Hangzhou 2023.
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