The Indian men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams qualified for the Paris Olympics by finishing second in their respective second-round heats at the World Athletics Relays on Monday.
In the women’s competition, the quartet of Rupal Chaudhary, M R Poovamma, Jyothika Sri Dandi, and Subha Venkatesan clocked 3 minutes and 29.35 seconds to finish second behind Jamaica (3:28.54) in heat number one, earning a ticket to the Paris Games.
Later, the men’s squad of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Arokia Rajiv, and Amoj Jacob finished second in their heat with a combined time of 3 minutes and 3.23 seconds, trailing only the United States (2:59.95).
The top two teams from each of the three heats in the second round would qualify for the Olympics, which would take place from July 26 to August 11.
The Indian women’s team finished fifth in the first round qualifying heat on Sunday, clocking 3 minutes and 29.74 seconds.
The men’s team failed to finish the first-round qualifying heat after Rajesh Ramesh, the second leg runner, pulled out due to cramps.
With this, India now has 19 Paris-bound track and field athletes, including defending javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra.
The athletics events at the Games will start on August 1.
