Asian Games: Harita Bhadra holds nerve in photo-finish to bag 200m bronze

Harita Bhadra

NEW DELHI: India’s Harita Bhadra secured a hard-fought bronze medal in the women’s 200m at the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday, edging Japan’s Abigeirufuka Ido in a thrilling photo-finish.Harita clocked 23.20 seconds to finish third, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Ido, who was timed at 23.21s. Indonesia’s Shanti Pereira won the gold in 22.78s, while China’s 100m champion Yujie Chen took silver with a timing of 22.93s.

The bronze was India’s ninth athletics medal at the ongoing Games, taking the country’s track and field haul to four silver and five bronze medals. India are still waiting for their first athletics gold in Aichi-Nagoya.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Harita holds her nerve in photo-finish

Harita produced a strong finish to secure the final podium position in a closely contested race. The Indian sprinter had little margin for error, with Ido pushing her all the way to the line.The Japanese athlete clocked 23.21 seconds, but Harita’s 23.20s was enough to secure bronze and add another medal to India’s growing athletics tally.

Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland, the other Indian in the final, finished sixth with a timing of 23.46 seconds.

Harita’s medal added to an increasingly productive athletics campaign for India, with the track and field contingent now having collected nine medals.

More athletics medals in sight

India remained in contention for more medals in athletics later on Sunday.The women’s long jump final was underway, with Ancy Sojan leading after her first two attempts. Her best effort stood at 6.49m at that stage of the competition.Tejaswin Shankar was also still in medal contention in the decathlon, sitting third with only the final event remaining.Few minutes later, India’s Animesh Kujur finished fifth in the men’s 200m final after clocking 20.80 seconds. Thailand’s Puripol Boonson won the race in spectacular fashion, setting a new Asian record with a time of 19.88 seconds.