Jaipur, May 2: Indian athletes are set to showcase their talent at the World Athletics Relay 2026, taking place for the first time on African soil in Gaborone, Botswana, on Saturday (May 2) and Sunday (May 3).
After impressive performances in domestic competitions, the main group of sprinters will have the opportunity to test their skills against the best in the region. The first qualification round for all six relay events is scheduled for Saturday, with the second round and finals set for Sunday.
The top two teams from each heat will not only advance to the finals but also secure their spots for the Beijing World Athletics Championships 2027. According to World Athletics guidelines, the second round of qualifications will occur on Sunday (May 3).
In the men’s 4×400 meters relay, India has been placed in Heat 3, alongside Japan, the second Asian country in this heat. Other countries in Heat 3 include Mexico, Switzerland, Qatar, Spain, Belgium, and Great Britain.
India’s best time for the 4×400 meters relay this season is 3:01.43, recorded earlier in Chandigarh. The national record stands at 2:59.05, set during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The host nation, Botswana, is placed in Heat 1, while Kenya and Zimbabwe, with the season’s best times of 3:00.34 and 3:00.69 respectively, are in Heat 2.
The Indian men’s 4×100 meters relay team is also in Heat 3, with a season-best time of 40.47 seconds. China is another competitor in this heat, along with Poland, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Great Britain.
The national women’s 4×100 meters relay team is placed in Heat 1, competing against teams from Ireland, Australia, Canada, the USA, Poland, and Spain, with India’s best time this season being 44.18 seconds.
The Indian mixed 4×100 meters relay team is in Heat 2, facing teams from Paraguay, Belgium, Spain, China, the USA, France, and Poland. India’s best time this season is 42.30 seconds, recorded during a domestic competition in Chandigarh.
In the mixed 4×400 meters relay, India is placed in Heat 1, alongside Uganda, Ireland, the USA, Belgium, Spain, and Australia.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
