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Indian Relay Teams Shatter Records, Qualify for World Athletics Relays

Indian relay teams delivered a historic performance at the National Open Relay Competition in Chandigarh, securing qualification for the World Athletics Relays. The India B quartet set a stunning new national record in the mixed 4x100m, while India A also posted a blistering time to claim silver. The teams displayed seamless baton exchanges and explosive speed against competitors from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other nations. Chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair expressed confidence that more teams will meet the qualification standard for Botswana.

Key Points: Indian Relay Teams Qualify for World Relays with Record Times

  • India B sets new 4x100m national record
  • Teams qualify for World Relays in Botswana
  • Strong showing against international competition
  • Junior squads from Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh also win
2 min read

Indian teams qualify for World Relays with record-breaking performance in Nationals

India's 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams break national records to secure qualification for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana.

"We are hopeful other four national relay teams will be successful in achieving the target time to board the flight to Botswana. - Radhakrishnan Nair"

Chandigarh, March 28

The Indian relay teams qualified for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, this May with record-breaking efforts by India B in men's 4x400 and in Mixed Team 4x100 relay competitions in the 1st International Invitational Relay / 3rd National Open Relay Competition 2026 in Chandigarh on Saturday.

The India B quartet clocked a stunning 42.30 seconds to win gold and shatter the previous 43.44s mark, while India A took silver at 42.34s-both securing spots at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, this May.

The two squads featuring athletes like Gurindervir Singh and Tamilarasu produced seamless baton passes and explosive pace that had the crowd cheering heartily. The Indian teams faced competition from Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka in the 1st International Invitational Relay.

India A claimed senior mixed 4x400m gold over Sri Lanka in 3:18.90, with youth squads from Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh adding more victories in a meet that highlights the nation's relay surge.

India's 4x100m mixed relay team clocked 42.30s to set a new National Record at the National Open Relay 2026. The quartet of Lalu Prasad, Unnathi, Harita, and Jayaram came up with perfect baton exchanges, explosive speed, and a historic finish.

In the junior section, Tamil Nadu women dominate the U20 Women's 4x100m relay, clocking 48.38, while Chandigarh clocked 45.44 to win the U20 4x100 Mixed Relay.

Competition in Botswana will be held in six relay events-4x100m (men and women), 4x400m (men and women), and mixed relay (4x100m and 4x400m), the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said in a statement on Friday.

As per World Athletics guidelines, the qualification period started from January 1, 2025, and will end on April 5, 2026. Teams within the top-24 World Rankings on the Road to Gaborone will be eligible to compete in Botswana.

The chief national athletics coach, Radhakrishnan Nair, had on Friday expressed confidence in a good show on Saturday, and the teams lived up to that. "We are hopeful other four national relay teams will be successful in achieving the target time to board the flight to Botswana," Nair added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Fantastic to see such dominance from the Indian teams! The fact that both India A and B qualified shows incredible depth in the squad. The mixed relay teams are particularly exciting. All the best for the World Relays!
P
Priyanka N
So proud of our athletes! The seamless baton passes are key. Often, we lose time there in big competitions. Great to see them nailing it under pressure. Special shoutout to the junior teams from Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh – the pipeline is strong! 💪
R
Rahul R
This is brilliant news, but let's keep our feet on the ground. The competition in Botswana will be at another level entirely with teams like USA, Jamaica, and Great Britain. This qualification is a great step, but the real test is ahead. Hope the federation provides them with the best training and exposure now.
A
Anjali F
Heartening to see the women and mixed teams performing so well! Unnathi, Harita, and the Tamil Nadu U20 women's team – you are inspiring a generation. More coverage for women's athletics, please! 👏
M
Michael C
Record-breaking at the Nationals is one thing, but doing it in an international invitational adds more weight. Beating teams like Sri Lanka comfortably is a good sign. The coach's confidence was well-placed. Now, go make some noise in Africa!

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