Indian women's 4x400 relay team assures itself a Rio berth

The Indian women’s 4x400 metres relay team is almost certain to qualify for the Rio Olympics after an impressive performance at the 3rd Indian Grand Prix athletics event in Bengaluru on Sunday. The Indian team has finished among the top 16 of the world's teams, virtually assuring them of a Rio berth. The team comprising of Nirmala Sheoran, Tintu Luka, M R Poovamma and Anilda Thomas (running as India A) clocked a timing of 3:27.88secs to book their spot.

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Earlier ranked 12th in the world, the team slipped to 14th spot due to the ongoing European championships in Amsterdam on Saturday, but on Sunday they fought back and made it to the 12th place after this performance. The Indian track and field contingent is now to swell to 33 as 24 have already qualified for the Rio Games.

Where Nirmala Sheoran and Tintu Luka have already qualified for the Olympics in their individual events earlier this week and since they are running along with the other team members, another four will be added to the squads soon. Earlier on Thursday , 20-year-old Nirmala Sheoran established herself as the first Indian female sprinter to make the cut for Rio Olympics 2016, when she clocked 51:48 seconds in Women’s 400 metres sprint at the 56th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships at Hyderabad’s G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium.

The Indian women’s relay team won gold at the PTS Athletics Meeting in Slovakia last week and exactly after 7 days, they fetched another gold medal  at the International Sprint and Relay Teams Cup in Turkey.

Also read: Sprinting to a Rio berth: Dutee Chand qualifies for the Olympics

Meanwhile, the men's 4x400m relay team also smashed the national record by finishing the race with a timing of 3:00.91 secs at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. In this team, more five spinsters to be added next alongside Muhammad Anas.

This will take the total number of Indian sportspersons for Rio Olympics to 114 as 105 have already qualified.

Feature Image Credit: sportskeeda.com