PNN & Agencies
New Delhi, July 4: The Indian 4x100m women’s relay team created a new national record at the Kazakhstan National Athletics Championships, clocking 43.42 seconds in Almaty, Monday. The same runners broke their own record of 44.03 seconds which they had set in Beijing in mid-may.
The 4x100m relay quartet, comprising of Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda, HM Jyothi and Merlin Joseph bettered their earlier national record of 44.03s, which was created in the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing in May. The Indians won the silver medal at the Almaty meet after starting off the blocks through Joseph, who was followed by Jyothi and Nanda respectively with Dutee anchoring the final leg. Hosts Kazakhstan bagged the top honours with a timing of 42.92s.
The women’s relay team are now placed 19th in the world timings. The top 16 teams with the best time will participate in Rio. Ahead of India are Japan and Kazakhstan with timings of 42.71 seconds. The Puerto Rican relay team currently occupies the 16th spot with a time of 42.53 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Indian 4x100m men’s relay team clinched the gold medal with a timing of 39.90s. The Indian quartet was led by Jyothi Sankar, followed by Krishna Kumar Rane and Vidya Sagar with Amiya Kumar Mallick running the last stretch.
