Paris Olympics: India Men’s and Women’s 4x400m Relay Teams Miss Out on Finals

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The Indian men's and women's 4x400m relay teams faced disappointment at the Paris Olympics, as both squads were unable to secure a spot in the finals despite delivering season-best performances.

In the men's 4x400m relay, the Indian team, comprising Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh, put forth a commendable effort but fell short of advancing to the final round.

Running in the second heat, the Indian team clocked a time of 3:00.58, which earned them a fourth-place finish. Despite this, they were narrowly edged out by France, Belgium, and Italy, who took the top three spots with times of 2:59.53, 2:59.84, and 3:00.26, respectively. Only the top three teams from each heat were eligible to progress to the final.

The race unfolded with Anas running the first leg, clocking 45.79 seconds and positioning the team in eighth place. The second leg, run by Ajmal, saw the Indian sprinter encountering significant traffic, getting blocked by runners from Spain and South Africa.

Despite this, Ajmal managed to navigate through the pack, clocking an impressive 44.55 seconds, which was the fourth-fastest split of the leg, and handed the baton to Amoj Jacob in fourth position.

Jacob maintained the momentum during his leg, pushing the team to challenge for the top three spots. However, in the final stretch, he was overtaken by the Italian runner, causing India to drop to fifth place. Rajesh Ramesh, running the anchor leg, managed to close the gap but couldn't surpass the Italian team, resulting in India finishing fourth after Nigeria's disqualification.

The women's 4x400m relay team also faced challenges, finishing eighth in their heat with a time of 3:32.51, which was significantly slower than their season-best of 3:28.64. Despite their efforts, the team couldn't keep up with the pace set by the top contenders, with the USA, Great Britain, and France qualifying for the finals from their heat. Jyothika Sri Dandi, running the second leg, was the fastest among the Indian women, recording a time of 51.30 seconds.

With the elimination of both relay teams, India's athletics campaign at the Paris Olympics came to an end. Despite the setbacks, the athletes' determination and season-best performances highlighted their commitment and potential on the global stage.