Prachi Choudhary wins bronze in women’s 400m at Asian Games 2026

Nagoya, September 27, 2026: India’s Prachi Choudhary claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 400 metres final at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday, clocking 53.21 seconds. The result marked her first individual medal at the continental multi-sport event and took India’s overall tally at the Games to 30 medals.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser won gold in a Games record of 49.20 seconds. Iran’s Zahra Zarei Manoujan took silver in 52.38 seconds. South Korea’s Seoyeon Kim finished fourth, while India’s other finalist, Kiran Pahal, placed fifth in 53.41 seconds.

Choudhary had advanced from the heats after finishing third in her heat in 53.46 seconds. In the final, run in rainy conditions, she held her position to secure the podium. The bronze was India’s eighth athletics medal at these Games.

Speaking after the race, Choudhary said the medal carried special meaning. “This is a very special medal for me because people kept on telling me that I can win medals only in relays. Today I have proved that I can also win medal in individual 400m also, that too in Asian Games,” she said. She added that she had trained in rain on many occasions and was therefore not unsettled by the weather. In a later comment she said, “I still can’t believe it. This is a moment I have worked towards for a long time. I gave everything I had in that race.”

The 29-year-old from Jhabiran village in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has previously won silver with India’s 4x400m relay team at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships in Doha. She also represented India in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her personal best of 52.57 seconds, set earlier in 2026, indicated improved individual form heading into the Games. She trains at the Inspire Institute of Sport and represents Indian Railways.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her, stating that her run had earned India a memorable place on the podium and wishing her well for future competitions.

Choudhary has indicated that she will now focus on the women’s 4x400m relay, with the aim of improving on the silver won in Hangzhou. The individual bronze ends a long wait for an Indian women’s 400m podium finish at the Asian Games since Hima Das’s silver in 2018.