India’s men’s 4x400m relay team produced its season-best timing during the opening qualification round of the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Indian quartet clocked 3:02.88 seconds in Heat 3, delivering one of their strongest performances of the season against a highly competitive field. Despite the encouraging effort, the team narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the World Athletics Championships.
The relay squad featured Rajesh Ramesh, Dharamveer Chaudhary, Manu TS, and Mohit Kumar, who maintained strong pace throughout the race and finished fourth in their heat.
South Africa topped the heat with a world-leading performance, while Belgium and Botswana also secured qualification spots ahead of India.
Although the direct qualification opportunity slipped away, the Indian team still remains in contention through the repechage rounds, where additional World Championship berths will be decided.
Indian athletics officials praised the team’s improved coordination and timing, especially considering the relatively early stage of the international season.
The World Athletics Relays are considered one of the most important events in global relay competition and also serve as a qualification pathway for major international championships.
India has shown consistent improvement in relay events over recent years, particularly after historic performances at the Asian Games and World Championships.
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