NEW DELHI: The Indian
4x400 mixed relay
quartet of
Mohammed Anas
,
MR Poovamma,
Hima Das and
Arokia Rajiv
at the
2018 Asian Games in Jakarta has been upgraded to gold medal position. Besides, Anu Raghavan moved from fourth place to bronze medal position in the women’s 400m hurdles.
The Bahrain squad, which finished first in the 4x400 mixed relay final, was disqualified with Kemi Adekoya being handed a four-year ban by the
Athletics
Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test. The AIU said that Adekoya’s results between August 24, 2018 and November 26, 2018 will be disqualified.
Following the race, India had lodged a complaint against Bahrain for obstruction, but it was turned down by the technical committee. Indian 4x400m mixed relay team finished in 3:15.71s after Hima Das was obstructed by Oluwakemi Adekoya, who was sprawling on the track after the second baton exchange. India now is the first winner of the event introduced in the Asian Games in 2018 in keeping with the international bid to find gender balance.
Raghavan had clocked her fastest time of 2018, 56.77s in finishing fourth in the hurdles final while her team-mate Jauna Murmu second fastest (57.48s) gave her the fifth place. Adekoya’s disqualification saw them move to higher places.