Prachi Choudhary Makes Her Mark with 400m Bronze
-53.21 seconds earns India another athletics medal in Nagoya; first individual Asian-level medal of her career
Sukhminder Bhangoo/Babushahi Network
Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 27, 2026: India’s Prachi Choudhary produced a strong run in the women’s 400m final at the 2026 Asian Games, clocking 53.21 seconds to win the bronze medal.
Bahrain’s Salwa Naser captured gold in a Games-record 49.20 seconds, while Iran’s Zahra Zarei Manoujan took silver in 52.38 seconds. India’s other finalist, Kiran Pahal, finished fifth in 53.41 seconds.
The medal marks a major milestone for Choudhary: it is her first individual continental medal. She had previously won medals as part of India’s 4×400m relay teams, including silver at the 2022 Asian Games and the 2019 Asian Championships.
According to World Athletics, Choudhary, born 20 December 1996, has a personal best of 52.57 seconds in the 400m, set in Bhubaneswar on 22 August 2026.
Her Nagoya performance was particularly significant because she had often been viewed primarily through her relay performances. After the race, Choudhary said she was determined to prove that she could also win a medal in the individual 400m.
With the individual breakthrough now secured, Choudhary will also turn her attention to the women’s 4×400m relay, adding another chapter to her growing international career.