The women’s 400m produced one of the standout performances of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, with four Indian quarter-milers breaching the Asian Games qualification standard during the heats in Bhubaneswar.
Veteran sprinter Poovamma Raju led the field, clocking 53.35 seconds, the fastest time across all the heats. Close behind were Kiran Pahal in 53.42s, Aishwarya Mishra in 53.61s, and Rashdeep Kaur in 53.69s, with all four athletes comfortably achieving the qualifying mark for the 2026 Asian Games.
Women’s 400m Heats
- Poovamma Raju – 53.35s (Fastest qualifier)
- Kiran Pahal – 53.42s
- Aishwarya Mishra – 53.61s
- Rashdeep Kaur – 53.69s
The performances underline the growing depth in Indian women’s one-lap sprinting, an event in which the country has traditionally enjoyed considerable success, particularly in relay competitions at the continental level.
Poovamma, one of India’s most experienced 400m runners, once again demonstrated her consistency by topping the qualifying charts. A multiple Asian Championships medallist and a key member of India’s relay squads over the past decade, she continues to remain competitive against a younger generation of athletes.
Kiran Pahal, meanwhile, has emerged as one of India’s leading quarter-milers in recent seasons, consistently producing performances at the international qualifying standard. Aishwarya Mishra and Rashdeep Kaur have also shown impressive progress, adding valuable depth to India’s pool of 400m runners ahead of a busy international calendar.
The timing of these performances is particularly significant. With the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games both scheduled later this year, India appears well placed not only in the individual event but also in the women’s 4x400m relay, traditionally one of the country’s strongest disciplines.
The four qualifiers will return to the track later today, when they go head-to-head in the women’s 400m semi-finals, scheduled for 6:30 pm IST.