There are going to be 5 relay events at Tokyo Olympics in Athletics. Let us look at current qualification scenario from an Indian stand point.
Here are the 5 relay events at Tokyo Olympics:
Men’s 4 X 100 m Relay
Men’s 4 X 400 m Relay
Women’s 4 X 100 m Relay
Women’s 4 X 400 m Relay
Mixed 4 X 400 m Relay
Qualification:
In each of the 5 relay events, a total of 16 teams will participate. Each nation can send maximum 1 team per relay event subject to qualification.
The 16 quotas are going to be allocated in following manner:
- Top 8 teams at the World Athletics Championship 2019 qualified for the Olympics.
2. The first 8 placed teams at the World Athletics Relays Silesia 2021 shall automatically qualify for the relay events.
3. Out of the top 8 teams at World Athletics relay, in case a team has already qualified through the World Athletics Championships 2019, the remaining places will be allocated according to the World Athletics Top Performance Lists of 29 June 2021.
Indian Qualification Scenario:
India has already qualified for Mixed 4 X 400 m Relay event. Other relay teams will get a chance to qualify at next week’s World Athletics Relays in Poland. If any of our relay team finishes in top 8, they will achieve an Olympic quota.
World Athletics Relay: 1st & 2nd May 2021
Here is Team India for this event:
4 X 400 m Men: Amoj Jacob, Naganathan Pandi, Muhammed Anas, Arokia Rajiv, Sarthak Bhambri, Ayyasamy Dharun and Nirmal Noah Tom
4 X 400 m Women: M.R. Poovamma, Subha Venkatesh, Kiran, Anjali Devi, R. Revathi, V.K. Vismaya and Jisna Mathew.
4 X 100 m relay: Women: S. Dhanalakshmi, Dutee Chand, Hima Das, Archana Suseendran, Himashree Roy, A.T. Daneshwari.
If Indian relay teams are unable to qualify through this event, they can still qualify through World Ranking. Now depending on who finishes top 8 at next week’s event, we will get to know how many quotas are available through World Ranking.
Current World Ranking of Indian Relay Team:
Women’s 4 X 100 m – India is ranked 19th. They need to get into Top 16 for a chance to qualify through World Ranking.
Women’s 4 X 400 m – India is ranked 12th and is in a great position to qualify through rankings as well.
Men’s 4 X 100 m – India is ranked 52nd and is clearly out of contention for qualification.
Men’s 4 X 400 m – India is ranked 13th and is in a good position to qualify through World Ranking.
As can be seen through current World Rankings, India has a good chance to qualify 2 more relays teams. Hoping for quotas in the coming days.
