Devyani Zala, a 400-metre sprinter from Gujarat, has secured her place on the Indian team for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September 2026. She achieved the qualification by clocking 53.26 seconds at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This time was below the Asian Games qualification mark of 53.72 seconds.
Devyani's pledge to India
Speaking to ANI, Devyani said, "I will give my 100% and get a medal for India." Her selection marks a significant milestone in her athletics career, which began unexpectedly during her school days.
Devyani recalled that she first discovered athletics in the seventh grade after participating in Gujarat's Khel Mahakumbh through her school. Initially focused on cricket, she was unaware of the opportunities in athletics. However, a coach spotted her sprinting talent while she was playing cricket and encouraged her to take up the sport seriously.
Coach's intervention changed her path
"When I was in the seventh grade, I participated in a competition called 'Khel Mahakumbh' in Gujarat through my school. At that time, I wasn't aware of the massive achievements possible in athletics—such as the Olympics, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games. I was just running the 100-metre dash and didn't have much knowledge about the sport. In fact, my father was preparing me for cricket back then. However, everything changed one day while we were playing cricket on the ground. An athletics coach saw me sprinting and spoke to my father, suggesting that I should take up athletics because my sprinting form was excellent," she said.
Father's unwavering faith
Devyani's father, Mahendra Singh Zala, shared that she showed consistent success in Gujarat's government sports programme for five years before progressing to the Under-23 level. He recalled that a coach named Ajay Arjun recognised her potential after she narrowly missed a medal in an Under-23 event in Panchkula. "She was a champion for five years under the government sports program across the whole of Gujarat. Then came the Under-23 category, and she was set to compete in the Under-23 event in Panchkula. In her first outing there, she missed a medal by a fraction of a second. That's when she met a coach named Ajay Arjun, who told me she had great potential... Now, she has qualified for the Asian Games, which feels wonderful. I have 100% faith in my daughter; she will definitely bring home a medal. She is sticking to her workout regimen perfectly," he said.
Road to Nagoya
Devyani's qualification adds to India's growing contingent for the Asian Games. The 2026 edition in Nagoya will feature athletes from across Asia competing in various disciplines. With her determination and strong support system, Devyani aims to convert her national success into a podium finish on the continental stage.
