India's relay hopes dashed: Both men's & women's 4x400m teams crash out of Paris Olympics 2024

Indian men’s relay team miss out on finals despite season-best time.

In a day of mixed emotions for Indian athletics, both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams failed to qualify for the finals at the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite setting a season-best time, the men’s team couldn’t secure a spot in the final race, while the women’s team struggled to match their previous performances.

The men’s 4x400m relay team, consisting of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, Amoj Jacob and Rajesh Ramesh, finished fifth in their heat with a time of 3:00.58. This performance placed them 11th overall, not enough to advance to the finals. The team had entered the competition with high hopes after their sub-3-minute timing at last year’s World Championships.

In the women’s event, the team of Vithya Ramraj, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Poovamma Raju Machettira and Subha Venkatesan faced a tougher challenge. They finished eighth in their heat and 15th overall out of 16 teams, clocking 3:32.51. This time was about four seconds slower than their season best, dashing their hopes of reaching the final.

The qualification format for the finals was straightforward: the top three teams from each heat would automatically qualify, along with the two fastest remaining teams. However, both Indian teams fell short of these criteria.

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The day saw some impressive performances from other nations. In the men’s event, Botswana surprised everyone by winning their heat with a season-best time of 2:57.76. Great Britain and the United States also showed strong form in the first heat.

While the results are disappointing for Indian fans, it’s worth noting that both teams had already achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the Olympics. Their performances at the World Athletics Relays 2024 in Bahamas had earned them spots in Paris, showcasing the progress of Indian athletics on the global stage.

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