Bronze Medal Run at National Championships Paves Way for Zhala’s Asian Games Qualification

At the National Athletics Championships held in Bhubaneswar, Devyani Zhala clinched bronze in the women’s 400 m race with a clocking of 53.26 seconds. The result automatically qualified her for the Asian Games slated for September‑October 2026 in Japan.

Zhala’s performance added another accolade to her résumé, which already includes a silver medal at the World University Games and a silver at the World Athletics Continental Tour.

Her father, Mahendra Singh Zhala, praised her relentless work ethic, emphasizing the role of family encouragement in her success. The athlete expressed gratitude for the support from her university and the state sports department.

Officials from the Gujarat Sports Authority said Zhala’s achievement underscores the effectiveness of recent upgrades to coaching, nutrition, and sports science resources across the state.