KORAT, JUNE 26:The Indian women 4×400 metres relay team silenced the critics with a brilliant performance of 3:28.20s in the second leg of Asian Grand Prix here to ensure a place among world’s top 16 teams which will run in Beijing Olympics this August.
The Indian team had finished seventh in Athens Olympics in 2004 and since then team was on the winning spree on the continental level with title at Asian Games 2006, Asian Championships 2007 and silver in Commonwealth Games 2006.
Slowdown in timing in 2007 raised doubt over team’s performance but it was largely due to transition of runners from junior to senior level. Emergence of Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose and consistent performance from Chitra Soman brought back the team in winning gear in 2008.
National record holder Manjit Kaur who attained B qualification in Yalta got injured during Madurai Nationals but the fact that today’s race was without Manjit and still team managed to register best timings since Athens 2004.
As per Olympic qualification rule, average of two best performances of 2007 and 2008 will be considered and with today’s performance India’s average is 3:30.37s (3:32.55s in Bangkok and 3:28.20s in Korat) which is better than 14th place holder Italy team. As there is no further sanctioned meet in IAAF qualification competitions list for relay event after 3rd leg of Asian Grand Prix, Indian team will remain in Top 16.
World Top 16 teams 4x400m women (as on 22nd June 2008) : 1 USA 3:20.35, 2 Russia 3:21.87, 3 Great Britain 3:22.74, 4 Blr 3:22.77, 5 Jamaica 3:22.93, 6 Poland 3:26.41, 7 Cuba 3:27.04, 8 Mexico 3:27.44, 9 France 3:27.62, 10 Ukrain 3:27.91, 11 Germany 3:28.41, 12 Nigeria 3:28.85, 13 Japan 3:30.35, 14 Italy 3:30.98, 15 Brazil 3:31.11, 16 Canada 3:31.35.