The mixed 4x400m relay team comprising of Rajesh Ramesh, Rupal, Avinash Krishna Kumar, and Jyothika Sri Dandi started off for India at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium but finished in sixth place in heat 2 with a timing of 3:20.36.
On the other hand, the Indian men’s 4x400m relay team, led by Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Rajesh Ramesh, Muhammed Ajmal, and Amoj Jacob, who had previously won gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and hold national and Asian records, did not complete their race in heat 4. Anas ran an impressive 45.93 in the opening split before Ramesh had to stop due to an injury.
Botswana and South Africa secured Paris 2024 qualification by topping their heat in the men’s 4x400m relay event. In the women’s event, the Indian team of Vithya Ramraj, MR Poovamma, Jyothika Sri Dandi, and Subha Venkatesan finished fifth in heat 1 with a time of 3:29.74.
Despite missing out on an Olympic quota on Sunday, the Indian athletes will have another opportunity on Monday. Teams that do not qualify for the finals will have a chance to compete in an additional qualifying round, with the top two teams from each heat earning a spot at Paris 2024.
If the Indian athletes do not secure an Olympic quota at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, they can still qualify for Paris 2024 based on their performance during the qualification period, which lasts from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2024. Two quotas will be available through the top lists.