India faced a tough time at the World Athletics Relays, as injuries and disappointing finishes marred their efforts on Sunday, the second day of the event.
The worst moment came in the men’s 4x400m relay. India had high hopes for securing a spot in the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, but those dreams ended abruptly. Amoj Jacob experienced cramps shortly after receiving the baton from his teammate, Dharamveer Choudhary, forcing him to pull out of the race. This resulted in a Did Not Finish (DNF) for the team. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were set to run the last two legs but never got the chance.
After failing to qualify for the finals on Saturday, India hoped to perform better in the second qualification round. They needed to be among the top two teams in their heat to move forward. Now, they must look to the World Athletics Top Lists for a chance at qualification, which is more uncertain and takes longer.
### BATON DROP IN MEN’S 4×100
The challenges continued in the men’s 4x100m relay. A lack of coordination led to further trouble when third-leg runner Ragul Kumar fell while trying to pass the baton to Gurindervir Singh, resulting in their disqualification. Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur had already completed the first two legs. Kumar, appearing in pain, needed help to leave the track.
India’s baton exchange issues were also evident in the women’s 4x100m race. A mishap between Tamanna and Nithya Gandhe saw them drop the baton, causing Gandhe to turn back to get it after initially sprinting ahead. They finished with a time of 53.09 seconds in what was a chaotic race.
Despite the setbacks, there was a small silver lining. The mixed 4x100m relay team, featuring Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur, and Sneha SS, set a new national record of 41.35 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 42.30 seconds set earlier this year, though they still finished sixth in their heat.
The mixed 4x400m team also struggled, with Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William, and Rashdeep Kaur finishing fifth in their heat, clocking in at 3:19.40.
After a disappointing Saturday when all five relay teams failed to reach their finals, Sunday’s events only added to the frustrations. With injuries and mistakes overshadowing their performance, India’s campaign ended on a somber note.
