Harmilan Bains swaps the track for Roadies in a new chapter
The double Asian Games silver medallist has joined MTV Roadies, trading race days for reality television after injuries derailed her bid for the Paris Olympics.
Key Takeaways
- Indian middle-distance runner Harmilan Bains, a double silver medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, has joined the reality show MTV Roadies as a contestant.
- Bains, 28, has joined the gang led by Gurbani Judge on Roadies Rebirth, the show's 21st season, after injuries kept her out of contention for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Reports stress she has not announced a retirement from athletics, and her move is being read as a new chapter rather than the end of her running career.
Introduction
Harmilan Bains has traded the start line for the small screen. The Indian middle-distance runner, who won two silver medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, is now a contestant on MTV Roadies, a move that has put her name among the most searched in India this week.
It is an unusual switch, but one Bains has framed in her own terms. As she put it on social media, being an athlete does not mean she has to limit herself to one path.
What Happened?
Bains has joined Roadies Rebirth, the 21st season of the long-running reality show, which premiered on 16 October and airs on Fridays and Saturdays on MTV and JioHotstar. The show, hosted by Rannvijay Singha, divides contestants into gangs led by celebrity leaders, who put them through physical and mental tasks before an individual winner emerges.
After impressing in the selection process, Bains opted to join the gang led by Gurbani Judge. Neha Dhupia, Nikhil Chinapa and Prince Narula are the other gang leaders on the season. Coverage of her entry on 1 and 2 November, followed by a fresh explainer on 3 November, is what pushed her name up Google Trends India, where searches reached the 10,000-plus band.
Why Does This Matter?
Bains is not a fringe name in Indian athletics. At Hangzhou, she won silver in both the women's 800 metres and the 1,500 metres, a rare double that made her one of the stars of India's track team. She went on to win gold in the 1,500 metres short track event at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Iran in February 2024, and she previously held the national record in the women's 1,500 metres.
Her story since then has been harder. A knee operation kept her out for 10 months, and a run of injuries meant she could not qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Bains has spoken openly about how much that failure hurt, saying she went through depression and at one point contemplated quitting the sport altogether. Her message since has been aimed at young athletes and their parents: enjoy the sport, do not let stress consume you, and remember it is never too late to change direction.
That context is why her Roadies move has landed differently from a routine celebrity appearance. It is not being presented as a farewell to athletics. Reports are careful on this point: there is no confirmation that she has retired, and her television stint has not been framed as a permanent goodbye to the track.
Important Details
- Who: Harmilan Bains, 28, from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Indian middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres and 1,500 metres.
- Asian Games medals: Silver in the women's 800 metres and silver in the women's 1,500 metres at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
- Other honours: Gold in the 1,500 metres short track at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Iran in February 2024; former national record holder in the women's 1,500 metres.
- The show: MTV Roadies Rebirth, the 21st season, hosted by Rannvijay Singha, airing on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm on MTV and JioHotstar.
- Her gang: Bains joined the team led by Gurbani Judge; Neha Dhupia, Nikhil Chinapa and Prince Narula lead the other gangs.
- What it is not: No retirement from athletics has been announced, and reports do not describe the move as permanent.
Background and Context
Bains broke through as one of India's most promising middle-distance runners, going unbeaten in individual races through 2021 before knee surgery interrupted her rise. She fought back to the top at Hangzhou, then faced another cycle of injury and rehabilitation that ultimately cost her a place at Paris 2024.
After two years away from regular competition, she returned to racing and finished third on her debut over 10,000 metres in Pune. It was against that backdrop that she confirmed her participation in Roadies.
What Happens Next?
On the show, Bains will face the usual Roadies grind of tasks, votes and eliminations, judged week by week as episodes air. Off screen, the open question is the track: nothing in the current reporting rules out a return to competition, and Bains herself has not closed that door.
FAQs
Who is Harmilan Bains? An Indian middle-distance runner, 28, who won silver medals in the 800 metres and 1,500 metres at the Hangzhou Asian Games and gold over the 1,500 metres short track at the 2024 Asian Indoor Championships.
Has Harmilan Bains retired from athletics? No. Reports of her Roadies move do not describe it as a retirement, and there is no confirmation that she has quit the sport.
Which gang has she joined on Roadies? She joined the gang led by Gurbani Judge on Roadies Rebirth, the show's 21st season.
Why did she miss the Paris Olympics? Injuries disrupted her preparations and she did not qualify for Paris 2024, a setback she has since discussed openly, including its effect on her mental health.
Sources and Verification
This article is based on reporting published on 1-3 November 2026 by CNBC-TV18, Mid-Day, NDTV Sports and Moneycontrol, cross-checked for medals, dates and the gang she joined. Where sources differed on the year label for the Hangzhou Games, this article refers to them simply as the Hangzhou Asian Games.
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Editorial Note
This article reports a career move that is still unfolding. If Bains announces a return to competition or a retirement from athletics, this article will be updated. Readers affected by the mental health issues discussed in this article may wish to seek support from a trusted person or a professional service in their area.
