Relay team not in Olympic list, AFI says its a mistake

IAAF has omitted India's Olympic qualified women's 400m relay quartet in its latest list of top 16 teams to contest in Beijing.

In an apparent gaffe, International Amateur Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) omitted India’s Olympic qualified women’s 400m relay quartet in its latest list of top 16 teams to contest in the biggest sporting extravaganza in China in August.

IAAF, it seems, did not consider Asian Grand Prix series (June 23, 26, 30) as Olympic qualifying events where India won the gold in Korat (Thailand) GP on June 26 to book the berth but the Athletics Federation of India on Thursday said it was a ‘mistake’, which would be rectified soon.

The list has Canada as the 16th best team with an average timing of 3:31.35 while Indian women, after considering their 3:28.29 effort in Korat last month, have an average timing of 3:30.84 which should have placed them in the 14th spot above Italy.

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“There could be some mistake or miscommunication between IAAF and Asian Athletics Association (AAA) regarding the qualifying events. I have spoken to AAA General Secretary and he has written a letter to the IAAF and the matter would be sorted out,” AFI General Secretary Lalit Bhanot said.

“Asian GP series is definitely an Olympic qualifying event. There should not be any problem and Indian relay team should be in the list for the Beijing Olympics,” he said.

There are no listed Olympic qualifying events till July 16, the last date for relay qualification, and India may have to miss the bus to Beijing if the ‘mistake’ is not rectified before that.

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