Asian Games: Prachi wins bronze as Animesh books 200m final berth

Prachi Choudhary won bronze in the women’s 400m at the Asian Games, while Animesh Kujur qualified for the men’s 200m final. India’s medal tally rose to 30, while Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah also advanced to the men’s 1500m final

Nagoya: India’s Prachi Choudhary won the bronze medal in the women’s 400m at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan on Saturday, clocking 53.21 seconds to finish third and take India’s overall medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games to 30.

Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain won the final, taking the gold medal in 49.20 seconds and setting a new Games record. Zahra Jaree Manojan of Iran secured silver with a time of 52.38 seconds.

India’s Kiran finished fifth in 53.41 seconds, while South Korea’s Seoyeon Kim finished fourth.

Prachi’s bronze took India’s medal tally to four gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze.

India has won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s kabaddi events. The Indian women’s cricket team also secured gold, while Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event in shooting.

Meanwhile, Animesh Kujur secured his spot in the men’s 200m final by finishing second in the third semifinal with a time of 20.81 seconds.

Thailand’s Puripol Boonson won the semifinal in 20.10 seconds, setting a new Games record, with Kujur finishing behind him.

After failing to secure a spot in the men’s 100m final, the Indian sprinter has now advanced to the 200m medal race.

India also secured two spots in the men’s 1500m final, with Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah qualifying from their respective heats.

In Heat 2, Gulveer finished third with a time of 3:45.79, while Yoonus also finished third in Heat 1 with a time of 3:45.77.

The two Indian athletes will compete in the men’s 1500m final, scheduled for Monday.