Paris Olympics 2024: Kiran Pahal fails to qualify for semi-finals in women's 400m

Pahal has a chance to qualify for the semi-finals through the repechage round scheduled for tomorrow.

In her Olympic debut, India’s sole representative in the women’s 400m, Kiran Pahal, faced a challenging start at the 2024 Paris Games. Despite entering the competition with high hopes, Pahal finished seventh in her heat with a time of 52.51 seconds, placing her 40th overall in Round 1.

Pahal’s journey to the Olympics was marked by a significant achievement in June when she set a personal best of 50.92 seconds at the Interstate Senior Athletic Championships in Panchkula. This performance not only surpassed the Olympic qualification mark but also established her as the second-fastest Indian in the event, behind national record-holder Hima Das.

However, the Olympic stage proved more demanding. In a highly competitive heat that saw the fastest times of the day, Pahal struggled to keep pace after the 200m mark. The heat winner, Paulino, clocked an impressive 49.42 seconds, highlighting the intense level of competition.

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Pahal now has a last chance to qualify for the semi-finals through the repechage round scheduled for tomorrow. With sub-50 second performances becoming common in the heats, her path to advancement appears challenging.

Despite the setback, there may be a silver-lining for Pahal. The fierce competition could provide an opportunity for her to aim for the national record, currently held by Hima Das at 50.79 seconds.

Interestingly, despite Pahal’s individual qualification, she was not selected for India’s 4x400m relay team. The Athletic Federation of India chose to prioritize athletes from national camps for the relay event.

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