2nd Asian Relay Championships 2026: Gurindervir Singh & Animesh Kujur to Lead 29-Member Indian Squad in Shangyu
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has officially announced a 29-member track and field contingent for the upcoming 2nd Asian Relay Championships, scheduled to take place in Shangyu, China, on June 20 and 21, 2026.
The Indian national team will be spearheaded by premier short-sprinters Gurindervir Singh & Animesh Kujur, who recently established a new national records in the men's 100m sprint at the National Senior Federation Athletics Championships. India is slated to field competitive line-ups across all six major relay disciplines at this second edition of the continental event, aiming to build momentum ahead of future regional assignments.
Men’s Sprints (4x100m & Mixed 4x100m)
The short-sprint division consists of the country's fastest active individual runners, focusing heavily on baton-exchange chemistry:
- Gurindervir Singh (Lead)
- Animesh Kujur
- Harsh Santosh Raut
- Pranav Pramod Gaurav
- Ragul Kumar Ganesh Kumar
- Senthil Kumar Tamilarasu
Men’s Quarter-Mile Pool (4x400m & Mixed 4x400m)
A deep nine-member roster has been deployed for the 400m loops to navigate structural fatigue over successive heat rounds and provide tactical flexibility for the mixed setup:
- Theerthesh P Shetty
- Avinash Kumar
- Setu Mishra
- Nihal Wiliam
- S Santhosh
- Rince Joseph
- Suraj Alagar Raja
- Mohit Kumar
- Barath Sridhar
Women’s Sprints (4x100m & Mixed 4x100m)
A lean five-member unit has been tasked to handle the linear relay duties on the track in China:
- Nithya Gandhe
- Tamanna
- Sneha SS
- Sudeshna Shivankar
- Abinaya Rajarajan
Women’s Quarter-Mile Pool (4x400m & Mixed 4x400m)
Blending experienced international medalists with explosive developmental talent, this block remains one of India's historically dominant continental components:
- Rashdeep Kaur
- Poovamma MR
- Ansa Babu
- Vijaykumari GK
- Saloni Nagar
- Neeru Pathak
- Subha V
- Gowrinandana
Event Overview & Strategic Context
The two-day championship serves as a critical benchmark for the technical vetting of regional track combinations.
| Event Parameter | Details & Specifications |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2nd Asian Relay Championships 2026 |
| Competition Dates | June 20 – June 21, 2026 |
| Venue | Shangyu, China |
| Indian Squad Size | 29 Athletes |
| Event Entries | 6 Categories (Men's, Women's, & Mixed across 4x100m and 4x400m formats) |
Looking Ahead: Chandigarh 2027
The tactical layout established by the coaching staff in Shangyu will carry long-term significance for the national program. The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) recently confirmed that following this 2nd edition, the 3rd edition of the Asian Relay Championships in 2027 has been officially awarded to India, with Chandigarh designated as the host city. Consequently, performance metrics recorded in China will serve as the foundational blueprint for India's home presentation next year.