Asian Relays Championships 2026: Full India Schedule, Timings (IST), Squad and Medal Hopes
India will field strong relay teams at the Asian Relays Championships 2026 across mixed and men’s and women’s events. Check the complete schedule, IST timings, squad details and India’s medal prospects.
The Asian Relays Championships 2026 will bring together the continent’s fastest sprinters and relay specialists for two days of high-quality competition, with India set to field teams across multiple events in a bid to challenge for medals.
Known for its strong relay tradition, particularly in the 4x400m events, India will compete in the mixed 4x100m, mixed 4x400m, women’s 4x100m, women’s 4x400m and men’s 4x400m relays. With a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging stars, the Indian contingent will look to make its mark against Asia’s leading athletics nations.
The championships also provide valuable international exposure ahead of a busy athletics calendar that includes major continental and global competitions.
India’s campaign begins on Saturday, June 20, with two mixed relay finals scheduled. The Mixed 4x100m Relay Final will take place at 4:40 PM IST, offering fans an opportunity to witness one of athletics’ newest and most exciting disciplines. India has assembled a pacey squad led by national sprint stars and will hope to challenge for a podium finish through smooth baton exchanges and explosive speed.
Later in the evening, attention will shift to the Mixed 4x400m Relay Final, scheduled for 6:05 PM IST. India has traditionally excelled in the one-lap relay events, making this one of the country’s strongest medal opportunities at the championships.
Day 2: Men’s and Women’s Relay Finals
Action resumes on Sunday, June 21, with three major finals involving Indian teams.
The Women’s 4x100m Relay Final is scheduled for 4:50 PM IST, followed by the Women’s 4x400m Relay Final at 6:00 PM IST.
The championships conclude with the Men’s 4x400m Relay Final at 6:17 PM IST, an event where India has consistently been among Asia’s strongest nations and will aim to continue that legacy.
India’s men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m squads feature a combination of experienced relay runners and promising young athletes.
The selected athletes are Theerthesh P. Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Setu Mishra, Nihal William, S. Santhosh, Rince Joseph, Suraj Alagar Raja, Mohit Kumar & Bharath Sridhar
The group offers depth and flexibility, allowing the coaching staff to optimise combinations based on form and race strategy.
The mixed 4x100m relay squad includes some of India’s quickest sprinters, headlined by national record holder Animesh Kujur. The squad comprises Animesh Kujur, Harsh Santosh Raut & Pranav Gaurav
Their challenge will be to combine raw speed with flawless baton exchanges, a critical component in short relay races where fractions of a second often determine medal positions.
India has long enjoyed success in women’s 4x400m relays, and the 2026 squad continues that tradition with a blend of veterans and younger runners.
The athletes selected for the women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m events are:Rashdeep Kaur, M.R. Poovamma, Ansa Babu, Vijaykumari G.K., Saloni Nagar, Neeru Pathak, Subha Venkatesan & Gowrinandana
The presence of experienced campaigners such as M.R. Poovamma and Subha Venkatesan provides leadership, while younger athletes add depth and fresh energy to the squad.
For the women’s sprint relay events, India has selected: Nithya Gandhe, Tamanna, Sneha S.S., Sudeshna Shivankar & Srabani Nanda
With a combination of experienced sprinters and emerging talent, the team will aim to deliver clean exchanges and maximise its chances against some of Asia’s fastest nations.
The Asian Relays Championships are more than just a medal event. They provide athletes with an important platform to test combinations, improve chemistry and gain competitive experience against elite continental opposition. For India, relay races have often produced memorable moments on the international stage, particularly in the 4x400m disciplines where teamwork and tactical execution frequently compensate for individual differences in speed.
The emergence of athletes like Animesh Kujur in the sprints and the continued presence of experienced relay specialists across the 400m events give India reason for optimism heading into the championships.
With five finals scheduled over two days, Indian athletics fans can look forward to an action-packed weekend as the nation’s relay teams take on Asia’s best. If the baton exchanges click and the athletes produce performances close to their personal bests, India has every opportunity to return home with multiple podium finishes and further strengthen its reputation as one of the continent’s leading relay nations.
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