At 23, Harita Bhadra wins Asian Games 200m bronze by 0.01 sec

Image courtesy: Instagram/@haritabhadra

Harita Bhadra has two very different ways of working with her hands. On the athletics track, she uses them to drive herself towards the finish line. Away from training, she uses them to design handmade jewellery for her own label, Dagina.

In September, the Mumbai athlete added another achievement to her journey: an Asian Games bronze medal in the women's 200m, decided by a difference of just 0.01 seconds. She was just 23 at the time.Bhadra clocked 23.20 seconds in the final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, finishing just ahead of Japanese sprinter Abigeirufuka Ido, who recorded 23.21 seconds. Singapore's Shanti Pereira won gold in 22.78 seconds, while China's Chen Yujie took silver in 22.93 seconds.The result was particularly significant because Bhadra had not initially been included in India's athletics contingent. She was added to the team at the last minute following a request from the Indian Olympic Association to the local organisers. The Sports Ministry cleared her and five other athletes to compete on September 2.

She did not know she had won a medal

The finish was so close that Bhadra was unsure whether she had secured third or fourth place.

She initially expected the results to appear on the screen opposite the finish line. "I knew I was either third or fourth because that's what the finish was," she told PTI. She eventually heard her name being announced. Her Indian teammate Unnathi Bolland then confirmed the result."But then I heard them say my name. And then Unnathi Bolland was like, 'Oh my god, you came third'," she recalled. Speaking about what she had in mind before the race, Bhadra said she wanted to trust her preparation rather than put herself under pressure.The bronze was also India's first women's 200m Asian Games podium finish since Dutee Chand won silver at the 2018 Jakarta Games. Bhadra's performance ended the country's eight-year wait for a medal in the event.

A sports science graduate who also designs jewellery

Image courtesy: Instagram/@haritabhadra

Athletics is not Bhadra's only pursuit. She graduated from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom with a BSc in Sports Science, Coaching and Physical Education in 2025. She has also built a handmade jewellery brand called Dagina, where she designs pieces and sells them online through Instagram.In a conversation with The Indian Express before leaving for the Asian Games, Bhadra explained how her academic background helped her understand her sporting career. "What I studied helped me understand my body better while sprinting," she said.After completing her degree, she decided to devote her attention to athletics while continuing to work on her jewellery business. "Once I was done with my graduation, I decided to give full attention to athletics and also handmade jewellery which is sort of my baby.

I design these jewellery pieces and sell them online on Instagram," she said.Her interest in jewellery also continued during the Asian Games. Soon after winning bronze, she was already thinking about creating a special piece inspired by her experience in Japan. "I definitely will design something to celebrate this medal. I will maybe dedicate an earring or something which has inspired me from Japan," she told PTI.

"Because Japan is so creative as well, so I will try to take some inspiration from that," she added.

She started athletics at 12 and spent a year focusing on the track

Bhadra began athletics when she was 12 years old. Enjoying the sport was one of the reasons she continued with it. For several years, she balanced competitive athletics with her education. Her time at Loughborough University also meant managing training and academic commitments together. After graduating, she made a conscious decision to give athletics more time.Her performances during the 2026 season had already indicated that she was improving. She won the 60m event at the Indoor National Championships with a timing of 7.32 seconds. At the National Inter-State Championships in June, she clocked 23.14 seconds in the 200m, her personal best at the time.

Her family encouraged her to continue running

Bhadra has credited her family for supporting her decision to pursue athletics, including during periods when she questioned whether the sport was becoming too difficult.

"They supported me 100 per cent, even more than 100 per cent. They believed in me even more when I thought maybe this is too tough," she told PTI.She said her family encouraged her to continue as long as she was happy and enjoyed competing. Her family was also present in Japan to watch her race. Seeing them in the stands after winning the medal made the moment emotional for her.For Bhadra, the Asian Games medal is now another achievement alongside her sports science degree and jewellery business. And she has already found a way to connect her two interests: she wants her next jewellery design to carry a memory of the race that gave her India's 200m bronze.