India's Mixed Relay Team Sets New National Record at World Athletics Relays 2026

At the World Athletics Relays 2026 in Gaborone, India faced a tough competition, with none of its teams qualifying for the upcoming World Championships. However, the mixed 4x100m relay team made headlines by setting a new national record. Despite individual achievements, the overall performance was disappointing, as several teams struggled to secure their spots. Read on to discover more about the events and the athletes' performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 4, 2026, 10:05 IST

Disappointing Performance at World Athletics Relays

Gaborone [Botswana], May 4: India's participation at the World Athletics Relays 2026 in Gaborone did not meet expectations, as none of the five teams qualified for the 2027 World Championships, as reported by a sports news outlet.

Despite the overall disappointment, the mixed 4x100m relay team achieved a remarkable feat by establishing a new national record on Sunday.

After failing to qualify in the initial round on Saturday, Indian teams were required to secure a top-two finish in their heats on Sunday to gain direct entry into the World Championships in Beijing.

The mixed 4x100m team, consisting of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur, and Sneha Sathyanarayana Shanuvalli, clocked a time of 41.35 seconds. Although they finished sixth in their heat, they set a new national record, surpassing the previous mark of 42.30 seconds established earlier this year in Chandigarh.

In the mixed 4x400m relay, a secondary Indian squad made up of Theerthesh P. Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William, and Rashdeep Kaur finished fifth in their heat with a time of 3:19.40. Olympians Amoj Jacob and Ansa Babu, who competed on Saturday, were rested for this event.

Jacob returned for the men's 4x400m race alongside Dharmveer Choudhary, Rajesh Ramesh, and Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi, but the team was unable to finish due to Jacob suffering from cramps, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) status.

Additionally, the women's 4x100m team, featuring Tamanna, Nithya Gandhe, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Sneha Sathyanarayana Shanuvalli, recorded a time of 53.90 seconds, placing last in their heat. The men's 4x100m team faced disqualification due to a baton drop during a changeover.

On the opening day, four Indian teams had already finished outside the qualification spots, despite achieving season-best times.