Asian Games 2023: Indian men’s 4x400m relay team made heads turn at the recently concluded World Championships. The team comprising the quartet of Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh shattered the Asian record, clocking 2:59.05 seconds in the heats. They are now the front-runners for the Gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games. However Amoj Jacob feels replicating the World Championship timing will be difficult given that the field will be less competitive.
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We won’t get that much challenge in Asian Games: Amoj Jacob
Their Asian record run at the World Championships heats, helped them become India’s first-ever quartet to reach the final in the prestigious event. They then finished fifth in the final of the Men’s 4x400m event clocking 2:59.92.
Speaking at a press meet on Saturday, Amoj Jacob said, “Definitely, (it) will be hard for us to get 2:58 (because) we won’t get that much challenge from anyone else at the Asian Games. Everyone will be looking at us. I think Japan will be competitive, they have three 44 runners. Don’t know about the timings, anything can happen on that day,” he added.
Amoj Jacob, who ran the fastest split in the heats revealed the team was feeling fatigued after the heat. “Before the heat, we were focusing on running 2:58. Our coach Jason had some plans. He asked to try and be in the first bunch—directly qualify. But, after that race, Rajesh was puking for an hour and we were very tired.”
Reflecting on the World Championship Final
The Indian team had some hurdles on their way in the final. Reflecting on it, Amoj Jacob said,“Major drawback was Ajmal jumping over the Botswana guy. Otherwise if he hadn’t fallen we would have clocked 2:58. In the second leg also I got blocked, I tried to catch them till 200m, I went all out but then I got tired.”
Ajmal said it was the small things that didn’t go there way in the final. “We had set a target to finish the race at sub 3 min. We were happy with the heat but couldn’t do it in the final. There were small things that led to us not being able to achieve it. But to be able to do that in the heats, gives us confidence for Asian Games,” Ajmal said.
At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, India won the gold medal in the Men’s 4x400m relay team. Kunhu Muhammed, Dharun Ayyasamy, Muhammad Anas, Arokiya Rajiv and KS Jeevan were part of that team. Muhammad Anas will be the only player from that gold-winning team, who will feature in the upcoming Asian Games.
