Two-time Olympian Priyanka Goswami delivered a strong showing as the Indian women finished fifth at the World Race Walking Team Championships 2026 in BrasÃlia, Brazil, on Sunday.
Priyanka Goswami, a 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, clocked 3:43:01 to finish 10th in the women’s marathon race walk. Payal (26th, 3:59:50) and Manju Rani (30th, 4:05:22) completed the team effort in the 42.195km event.
With the combined finishing positions of the top three athletes determining the standings, India totalled 66 points to secure fifth place.
Ecuador’s Paula Torres claimed gold in 3:24:37 – the second-fastest time ever recorded for the distance. Italy’s Sofia Fiorini, 21, took silver with a personal best of 3:25:42, while Ecuador’s Nathaly Leon secured bronze in 3:31:47.Â
Ecuador also topped the team standings.
In the men’s marathon race walk, India fielded only two athletes and did not feature in the team standings.
Ram Baboo finished 17th in 3:13:55, while Sandeep Kumar placed 20th with a time of 3:15:41.
Japan’s Hayato Katsuki won the men’s marathon race walk title in 3:04:58, leading a strong field in the debut edition over the distance. Ecuador’s David Hurtado took silver in 3:05:57, while Japan’s Kazuya Iwai completed the podium in 3:06:03.
India had a modest outing in the men’s half-marathon race walk, finishing 11th in the team standings.
Servin Sebastian was the best-placed Indian, finishing 19th in 1:30:28. Akshdeep Singh (50th, 1:38:19), Hardeep (57th, 1:42:28) and Sahil (59th, 1:43:11) were further down the order.
The women’s half-marathon race walk also proved challenging for India, with the team finishing 11th overall too.
Ravina emerged as the best-placed Indian, finishing 39th with a time of 1:45:44. Munita Prajapati followed in 43rd place, clocking 1:47:15, while Mansi Negi finished 52nd in 1:54:12.
Organised by World Athletics, the championship was the 31st edition of the meet and marked a shift in format with over 250 athletes from 40 countries competing across the newly standardised senior race walking distances.
The new programme replaced the traditional 20km and 35km events with the half marathon (21.0975km) and marathon (42.195 km), making their debut at the senior level at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
India have won two medals in the history of the championships.
The Indian men’s team of KT Irfan, Surinder Singh and Babubhai Kesharabhai Panucha won a bronze in the men’s 20km race in the 2012 edition of the championships.
Olympian Bhawna Jat, Ravina and Munita Prajapati also won India a bronze medal in the team category in the women’s 20km race walk event in 2022.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/world-race-walking-team-championships-2026-india-results-report
