Most athletics fans know the Asian Games and the World Championships. But the Asian Relays Championships is a different kind of event entirely, one built around teamwork, baton exchanges, and the most electrifying few seconds in track and field.
The 2026 edition, only the second ever held, arrives with India fielding their strongest possible relay contingent.
If you follow Indian athletics and want every detail about this event in one place, this guide has you covered.
the Asian Relays Championships 2026?
The Asian Relays Championships is a standalone continental relay-only competition organised by the Asian Athletics Association.
Unlike the broader Asian Athletics Championships which covers all track and field disciplines, this event is dedicated exclusively to relay races.
Key Facts at a Glance:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 2nd Asian Relays Championships |
| Dates | June 20 to 21, 2026 |
| Host City | Shangyu, Shaoxing, China |
| Organiser | Asian Athletics Association (AAA) |
| Edition | 2nd (inaugural was Bangkok 2024) |
| Format | Two-day relay-only competition |
The inaugural edition was held in Bangkok in 2024, making Shaoxing’s edition only the second chapter in this competition’s short but exciting history.
Asian Relays Championships 2026 Schedule: Day-by-Day Breakdown
The Asian Relays Championships 2026 takes place across two days with six relay events contested in total.
Events at the Asian Relays Championships 2026:
| Event | Category |
|---|---|
| 4x100m Relay | Men |
| 4x400m Relay | Men |
| 4x100m Relay | Women |
| 4x400m Relay | Women |
| Mixed 4x100m Relay | Mixed |
| Mixed 4x400m Relay | Mixed |
The exact day-by-day schedule with session timings has not yet been published by the Asian Athletics Association. Check asianathletics.com for the full timetable once confirmed.
India Squad for Asian Relays Championships 2026
The Athletics Federation of India has named a 29-member squad for Shaoxing, with national record holder Gurindervir Singh leading the contingent. India will compete in all six relay events, including both mixed races.
AFI president Bahadur Singh confirmed: “The competition in China will be a good opportunity for athletes to showcase their potential at the continental level.”
- Men’s 4x100m: Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Harsh Santosh Raut, Pranav Pramod Gaurav, Ragul Kumar, Senthil Kumar Tamilarasu
- Men’s 4x400m: Theerthesh P Shetty, Avinash Kumar, Setu Mishra, Nihal William, S Santhosh, Rince Joseph, Suraj Alagar Raja, Mohit Kumar, Barath Sridhar
- Women’s 4x100m: Nithya Gandhe, Tamanna, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar, Abinaya Rajarajan
- Women’s 4x400m: Rashdeep Kaur, Poovamma MR, Ansa Babu, Vijaykumari GK, Saloni Nagar, Neeru Pathak, Subha V, Gowrinandana
Note: Top 4x400m athletes Vishal TK and Rajesh Ramesh have been rested for this edition.
India’s History at the Asian Relays: Bangkok 2024
At the inaugural Asian Relays Championships in Bangkok in 2024, India sent a partially depleted squad as several top names had already qualified for the Paris Olympics. Despite that, both the men’s and women’s 4x400m teams returned with silver medals.
| Event | India’s Result | Gold Medallist |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s 4x400m | Silver (3:05.76) | Sri Lanka (3:04.48) |
| Women’s 4x400m | Silver (3:33.55) | Vietnam (3:30.81) |
With a full-strength squad heading to Shaoxing in 2026, the expectation is for India to go one better in both events.
Why This Championship Matters More Than You Think
It Is Still a Brand New Competition
This is only the second edition of the Asian Relays Championships. The event was created to give relay specialists dedicated continental-level competition outside the broader Asian Athletics Championships calendar. With the format still finding its feet, 2026 is a genuinely formative chapter.
Asian Games 2026 Is Right Around the Corner
The Asian Relays Championships in June sits just months before the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September to October. For the relay squads, this is effectively a dress rehearsal. Baton exchange timing, team combinations, and race-day pressure management will all be tested in Shaoxing before the bigger stage arrives.
India Has Already Won the 2027 Hosting Rights
In a significant development confirmed just weeks ago, India was awarded the hosting rights for the 3rd Asian Relays Championships, to be held in Chandigarh in 2027 at the Sector 7 Sports Complex. This makes the 2026 edition in Shaoxing doubly important for Indian athletics, as it sets the stage before the nation hosts this event on home soil.
How to Watch Asian Relays Championships 2026 in India – Live Streaming info
Official live streaming details for the 2026 Asian Relays Championships have not yet been confirmed. For the latest broadcast information:
- Check the Asian Athletics Association’s official website: asianathletics.com
- Watch the AFI’s official social media handles for streaming updates
- World Athletics’ YouTube channel may also carry coverage
Indian Athletes to Watch at Asian Relays Championships 2026
- Gurindervir Singh (Men’s 4x100m): India’s national record holder in the men’s 100m and the headline name in the sprint relay squad.
- Animesh Kujur (Men’s 4x100m): A key leg in India’s short sprint relay unit, also featured at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone in May 2026.
- Nithya Gandhe (Women’s 4x100m): One of India’s most reliable short sprint performers in recent seasons.
- Poovamma MR (Women’s 4x400m): A veteran of multiple continental campaigns and a consistent contributor in the longer relay.
- Ansa Babu (Women’s 4x400m): Among India’s most improved 400m runners heading into the 2026 season.
Final Word: Asia’s Newest Athletics Showdown Grows Up!
The Asian Relays Championships 2026 is still finding its identity as a competition, but the pieces that make it compelling are already in place.
Six relay events, a packed Indian squad with a genuine medal target, and a direct line to the Asian Games just months later make Shaoxing a genuinely important stop on the athletics calendar.
For Indian fans, it is a chance to watch their relay stars compete as a unit before the stakes get even higher in Japan.
FAQs
June 20 and 21, 2026.
Shangyu, Shaoxing, China.
Six events: men’s, women’s, and mixed versions of both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
A 29-member squad selected by the Athletics Federation of India.
National record holder Gurindervir Singh heads the contingent.
No. The inaugural edition was held in Bangkok in 2024. Shaoxing 2026 is the second edition.
Yes. India has been awarded the 2027 Asian Relays, to be held in Chandigarh.
