In the high-pressure cauldron of championship relays, few athletes thrive as consistently and dramatically as Subha Venkatesan.
Once again, under the glaring lights and roaring stands of the Asian Athletics Championships, Subha lived up to her growing reputation as India’s “Anchor Leg GOAT”, delivering a clutch finish that sealed India’s fifth gold medal of the competition — this time in the women’s 4x400m relay.
The Indian quartet of Jisna Mathew, Rupal Chaudhary, Kunja Rajitha, and Subha Venkatesan clocked a season’s best time of 3:34.18, edging out Vietnam and Sri Lanka in a thrilling final lap battle. This marks India’s first gold in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Asian Championships since 2013, restoring a legacy that once defined Indian dominance in this event.
Anchor Queen Delivers Again
Coming into the final leg, India was neck and neck with Vietnam, and a fierce charge from the Sri Lankan anchor momentarily pushed Subha into third. But true to her reputation, she didn’t panic. Instead, she measured her pace, let the Sri Lankan runner expend her energy early, and then produced a powerful final 120 metres — shifting gears and overtaking both competitors with a composed yet commanding sprint.
“You can always count on Subha,” said a twitter user post-race. “She has a sixth sense for these moments. Her timing, her patience, and her final burst — it’s everything you want from an anchor.”
This wasn’t a one-off. Just a day earlier, Subha had produced a similar anchor leg performance to guide India to gold in another relay event. In back-to-back races, she has not just held her own — she’s elevated the team, making her case as perhaps India’s most reliable relay finisher in recent years.
How the Race Unfolded
- Jisna Mathew gave India a steady opening lap, positioning the team among the lead pack.
- Rupal Chaudhary, known for her mid-race acceleration, delivered a standout second leg, pulling India into the top two.
- Kunja Rajitha ran a composed third lap, ensuring India remained in podium contention without losing ground to the surging Vietnamese team.
- Subha Venkatesan then took the baton for the anchor — and the rest, as they say, is becoming a recurring script of Indian athletics glory.
Vietnam clocked 3:34.77 to take silver, while Sri Lanka settled for bronze in 3:36.67.
Subha Venkatesan, hailing from Tamil Nadu, has quietly become one of India’s most dependable relay runners. Without the fanfare of some of her sprint peers, she has built her name through grit, precision, and an uncanny ability to rise when the stakes are highest.
Her success in the anchor role isn’t just about physical capability; it’s a reflection of mental resilience and tactical maturity. Knowing when to push, when to hold back, and when to unleash that final kick is a skill honed through countless repetitions and a deep understanding of race dynamics.
India’s Relay Revival
This gold medal victory marks a significant milestone for Indian women’s relay teams. After dominating the Asian circuit in the early 2000s and late 2010s, India had gone through a relative dry spell in the 4x400m relay, particularly after 2013. This performance signals a resurgence, built on a blend of experience (Jisna), emerging talent (Rupal), and the ever-reliable Subha.
India’s broader relay program also showed promise in Gumi — with the men’s 4x400m relay team securing silver with a time of 3:03.67.
Men’s Relay Team Impresses With Silver
Though the men couldn’t match the women’s golden run, the Indian team of Jay Kumar (18), Dharmveer Choudhary (24), Manu T.S. (23), and Vishal T.K. (21) delivered a powerful performance, missing gold by a mere 0.15 seconds to Qatar.
- Jay Kumar, the youngest member, opened the race well, setting the stage.
- Dharmveer moved India into medal position on the second leg.
- Manu kept India solidly in third during the crucial third lap.
- And finally, Vishal T.K. — taking inspiration from Subha perhaps — ran a phenomenal anchor, closing down on the leaders and securing silver.
This men’s team is notably in a transition phase, with none of the runners from India’s historic 5th-place World Championship team in 2023. Yet, the young squad has shown it is more than capable of carrying the baton forward — literally and figuratively.
A Special Gold, A Symbolic Finish
There was something poetic about this gold medal in the women’s relay. For years, India dominated this event, with legendary quartets setting continental records and winning Asian Games golds. The 2025 victory in Gumi felt like a return to form, and Subha’s anchor leg provided the ideal exclamation point to this story.
At a time when athletics is demanding faster times, smarter strategy, and unwavering nerves, Subha Venkatesan continues to be the defining figure of Indian relay success.
In Summary: A Golden Team Effort
- 🥇 India – 3:34.18
- 🥈 Vietnam – 3:34.77
- 🥉 Sri Lanka – 3:36.67
Indian Women’s 4x400m Relay Team:
🏃♀️ Jisna Mathew
🏃♀️ Rupal Chaudhary
🏃♀️ Kunja Rajitha
🏃♀️ Subha Venkatesan
This was India’s fifth gold medal at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, but perhaps none more exciting or symbolic than this. With Subha Venkatesan’s name now synonymous with composure and clutch performances, it may be time to officially crown her: India’s Anchor Leg GOAT.
