Nagoya, Sept. 24 -- India's mixed 4x400m relay team won its third consecutive Asian Games medal by securing a silver, while Seema fetched a surprise bronze in the women's 10,000m race as the country's athletics campaign began on a strong note here on Thursday.

The quartet of TS Manu, MR Poovamma, Vishal TK and Vithya Ramraj clocked 3 minute 14.46 seconds to finish behind Bahrain who took the gold with a Games record time of 3:12.87.

The result of the relay race was, however, kept unofficial for a while due to UAE lodging a protest. Later, UAE's disqualification was confirmed and the result was made official.

Earlier in the morning, India qualified for the final of the mixed 4x400m relay after finishing second in Heat 2.

India had a gold in the 2018 edition, when the event was introduced, and clinched a silver in the last Asian Games.

"We were expecting a gold. But of course, Bahrain, we were expecting a tough fight. But we all ran really good," Poovamma said later.

"So, in the women's 400 relay, we want to win a gold, change the colour of the medal."

It was in the women's 10,000m race that India opened the medal account in the Asian Games through the 25-year-old Seema who clocked 32 minute 50.05 seconds to finish third behind Winfred Yavi (32:39.18) of Bahrain and Nozomi Tanaka (32:41.54) of Japan.

Congratulating the long-distance runner from Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Proud of Seema on winning the Bronze Medal in the Women's 10,000m at the Asian Games! Congrats to her.

"Her determined performance has brought India a medal in this event after many years. A wonderful achievement that reflects endurance, discipline and years of hard work. Wishing her many more successes in the times ahead."

Hailing from Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, Seema said the tactical race suited her and she fought till the end.

"It was a tactical race. I was in front in the first two laps. But nobody wanted to be running in front. It suited me, so I kept myself among the leading

pack," she said later.

"But with around two laps left, the podium finishers are known by then. I fought hard till the end. I am very happy for my first Asian Games medal and also for the fact that I opened medal account in athletics."

"I have not even told my mother that I am in Japan for Asian Games. But whenever she finds out, she will not be able to sleep for a day," she said.

"My mother is quite old, around 70. I was born very late. When I go out, she gets very tensed. That is why I do not inform her. I only tell my sister that I have gone somewhere."

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.