Running to Glory: India Wins Multiple Medals at IAU 24-Hour Championships in Japan

India’s ultrarunning stars have once again announced their arrival on the global stage with a breathtaking performance at the IAU 24 Hour Asia & Oceania Championships 2026 in Hirosaki, Japan. Leading the charge were Amar Singh Devanda and Tenzin Dolma, who smashed national records in the men’s and women’s 24-hour races respectively.The Indian men’s team emerged champions, clinching the gold medal with a combined distance of 815.833 kilometres, while the women’s team secured a proud bronze in a competition that tested endurance, resilience, and mental toughness over an entire day of nonstop running.The remarkable achievement marks the third time Indian men have won team gold at IAU events, following earlier triumphs in 2022 and 2024.Amar Devanda Breaks His Own RecordOne of the biggest highlights of the championship came from Amar Singh Devanda, who delivered the run of his life. The Indian ultrarunner broke his own national record of 272.537 km, set in 2024, by covering an astonishing 282.881 km within 24 hours. His pace and consistency helped India dominate the men’s category and reaffirmed his position among Asia’s elite ultrarunners.India’s podium domination did not stop there. Geeno Antony secured the individual silver medal with 272.894 km, while Saurav Ranjan claimed bronze after covering 260.058 km. With gold, silver, and bronze all going to Indian runners, it turned into a historic clean sweep for the country in the men’s individual race.Tenzin Dolma’s Historic BreakthroughIn the women’s event, Tenzin Dolma produced a stunning performance to rewrite India’s national record. She covered 228.939 km, surpassing the previous record of 217.327 km set by Sunita Subba in France in 2025. Though she narrowly missed an individual podium finish and ended fourth overall, her performance became one of India’s biggest highlights at the championships.Japan’s Miho Nakata won the women’s gold medal with a distance of 261.170 km, while Australia’s Jenny White and Carrie Geeson shared the silver medal after both runners finished with identical distances of 241.229 km.India’s women’s team combined for an impressive 667.722 km to secure the bronze medal behind Japan and Australia.India’s Growing Ultramarathon RevolutionAccording to team manager and coach Santhosh Padmanabhan, the championships also saw Indian athletes rewriting national records in the 12-hour category for both men and women. Even more encouraging was the fact that eight out of the 11 Indian runners recorded new personal bests during the event — a sign of India’s rapidly growing strength in ultradistance running.From record-breaking performances to podium sweeps and team glory, India’s campaign in Japan showcased the country’s rising dominance in one of the toughest endurance sports in the world.