After 16 Years, India's Men's Relay Team Is Going To The Olympics And That Too In Record Style
BCCL
If you're an athletics fan in India, its likely you cant wait for the 2016 Rio Olympic to start. What's more India is sending its biggest-ever athletics contingent for the Olympic Games this year. For the first time since year 2000, India are going into an Olympic event with both their men's and women's relay teams.
The confirmation of the same came on Wednesday when the Indian 4x400m relay squads (men & women) were listed on the the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) website.
BCCL
Top-16 nations will race on August 20 and the Indian men's team were listed in 15th place with an average time of 3:01.54 seconds. The team, anchored by Tamil Nadu's Arokia Rajiv, was languishing in the 18th spot till they came up with a blistering run during the third Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The 4x400m men's relay team clocked 3:00.91, to enter the top-16 nations and it also got the record books fluttering with this year's second-best timing at the event.
BCCL
Both India and Venezuela are set to gain a place and 17th-ranked Japan will make the cut if Russia - currently ranked No. 11 - get an adverse ruling from the Court of Arbitration in Sport, the IAAF list stated.
In the women's Best Relay Performances list, the Indian quartet, anchored by Kerala's Anilda Thomas, was ranked 14th with an average time of 3:28.46s.
AFP
The women also benefited from their fine show at the Indian GP here when they clocked 3:27.88 seconds. In the women's section, India are the only Asian country in the fray.
Top-16 Nation List
(4x400m relay): MEN: Automatic qualifiers (top-8 at 2015 World Relays): 1. USA, 2. Bahamas, 3. Belgium, 4. Jamaica, 5. Brazil, 6. Great Britain, 7. Trinidad, 8. Botswana, 8. Cuba, 9. France, 10. Russia, 11. Domican Republic, 12. Poland, 13. Colombia, 15. India, 16. Venezuela.
WOMEN: 1. USA, 2. Jamaica, 3. Great Britain, 4. France. 5. Poland, 6. Canada, 7. Australia, 8. Brazil, 9. Nigeria, 10, Russia, 11. Ukraine, I2. Italy, 13. Germany, 14. India, 15. Romania, 16. The Netherlands.
