India’s 2018 Asian Games mixed relay medal upgraded to gold; Know How-

New Delhi, July 24: The Indian 4x400 mixed relay quartet comprising of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima Das, and Arokia Rajiv in the 2018 Asian Games, Jakarta has been upgraded to gold medal from silver after the Bahrain team was disqualified for failing a dope test.

 

 

The Bahrain squad who had won the gold medal was disqualified with Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain being handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test.

  

 

The Indian quartet of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima Das, and Arokia Rajiv had finished 3:15:71 behind Bahrain (3:11:89) after Hima Das was obstructed by Oluwakemi Adekoya. Due to this obstruction, India had appealed against it but it was turned down and India was awarded with a silver medal.

 

On the other hand, Anu Raghavan had clocked 56.92 to finish fourth in the final race of women’s 400m hurdles event in Jakarta but has been upgraded to the bronze medal after the AIU checked the results of Adekoya, who had originally won the race.

 

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) President Adille J Sumariwalla said AFI is delighted to see the World Athletics website ranking India's 4x400m mixed relay squad as the winner of the Asian Games and Anu Raghavan as the bronze medal winner of the women's 400m hurdles.

 

"The additional medal takes our tally to 20, including eight gold and nine silver. The news comes as a fillip to us as we are aiming to build on the Asian Games showing and make a mark at the global level in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year The 4x400m relay squad will be particularly pleased that it now has two gold and silver from Jakarta. We are confident that under coach Galina Bukharina's guidance, the relay squad will perform well," Sumariwalla said in a statement.