Indian Relay Teams Shine at National Open Relay Competition
Record-Breaking Performances in Chandigarh
On March 28 in Chandigarh, the Indian relay teams made headlines by qualifying for the World Athletics Relays scheduled for May in Gaborone, Botswana. This achievement came after remarkable performances by the India B team in the men's 4x400 and the Mixed Team 4x100 relay events during the 1st International Invitational Relay / 3rd National Open Relay Competition 2026.
The India B squad clinched gold with an impressive time of 42.30 seconds, breaking the previous record of 43.44 seconds. India A followed closely, securing silver with a time of 42.34 seconds, both teams earning their spots for the upcoming World Athletics Relays.
Featuring athletes such as Gurindervir Singh and Tamilarasu, the teams executed flawless baton exchanges and showcased remarkable speed, thrilling the audience. They faced tough competition from teams representing Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
In the senior mixed 4x400m event, India A triumphed over Sri Lanka with a time of 3:18.90. Youth teams from Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh also celebrated victories, underscoring the growing strength of Indian relay teams.
The mixed relay team of India set a new National Record in the 4x100m, clocking 42.30 seconds, thanks to the exceptional performance of Lalu Prasad, Unnathi, Harita, and Jayaram, who executed perfect baton exchanges and displayed explosive speed.
In the junior category, Tamil Nadu's women dominated the U20 Women’s 4x100m relay with a time of 48.38 seconds, while Chandigarh secured victory in the U20 4x100 Mixed Relay with a time of 45.44 seconds.
The upcoming competition in Botswana will feature six relay events, including the 4x100m and 4x400m for both men and women, as well as mixed relays. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirmed this in a statement.
According to World Athletics regulations, the qualification period commenced on January 1, 2025, and will conclude on April 5, 2026. Teams ranked within the top 24 on the Road to Gaborone will be eligible to participate.
National athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair expressed optimism about the teams' performances, stating, 'We are hopeful that the other four national relay teams will meet the target times necessary to travel to Botswana.'