Taiwan Open athletics: Men's 4x100m relay team gets it right after their DQ at Asian C'ships; Jyothi goes sub-13 once again
The men's 4*100 m relay team made up for the botched baton exchange at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in May, clocking 38.75s to win the gold medal at the Taiwan Open Athletics on Saturday as the Indian athletes had a successful day at the competition, winning six gold medals.
The quartet of Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain were the favourites from the start, and they didn't disappoint, clocking the second-fastest time of the year as a team. Their best time is the current national record 38.69s, clocked earlier in April this year.
At the Asian Athletics last month in Korea, the Indian team was disqualified in the heats despite clocking the best time. Pranav Gurav and Ragul Kumar – two alternate athletes in the relay contingent – fluffed the baton transfer in the heats of the tournament as they exchanged it outside the takeover zone, leading to India's immediate disqualification. In today's race, the Indian team began well with Gurindervir giving a solid start which was continued by Animesh who ran a good second leg. In the third leg, Manikanta took the lead and Animesh continued it cross the finish line and led India to the gold medal.
Young sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan starred in the women's 4*100m relay race as her stunning run in the third leg powered India to another gold. The quartet of Sudeeksha Vadluri, Sneha SS, Abinaya, and Nithya Gandhe clocked 44.07 in the event. At the Asian Athletics, the same team had won a silver medal with 43.86s.
Hurdler Jyothi Yarraji continued her gold medal-winning form as she clocked 12.99s in women's 100m hurdles to run her second sub-13 race of the year. After qualifying with a timing of 13.18s in the heats, Jyothi faced tough competition from Japanese hurdlers Chisato Kiyoyama and Asuka Terada. In the final, Chisato and Asuka had a brilliant start as Jyothi trailed them in the first 60m. However, a push from Jyothi in the last few meters saw her leave both Japanese hurdles behind to win her second gold in 15 days.
In the men's 110m hurdles, Tejas Shirse won the gold medal clocking his season best timing of 13:52s. Earlier he had clocked 13:62s in the heats to book his final berth.
The 22-year-old Pooja decimated the field in the women's 1500m to win the gold medal with a timing of 4:11.63. When Pooja crossed the finish line her closest competitor Su Gyon Jon of North Korea was not even in the camera frame. Pooja has been on a rise this year as she won two medals at the Asian Athletics last month. She won a silver in the women's 1500m clocking 4:10.83 and clocked a personal best in 800m to win the bronze medal with a timing of 2:00.42. She can add one more medal to her tally when she participates in the 800m tomorrow.
Experienced triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker was the sixth gold medalist for India as he jumped a modest 16.21m. Despite crossing the 16m mark just one time, Aboobacker won the gold as the other athletes failed to cross the 16m mark even once.
The Indians in action on Sunday are Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan (Long Jump), Pooja (800m), Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Yashas Palaksha (400m hurdles), and the men's 4*400m relay team.
KEY INDIAN RESULTS ON SATURDAY:
4*100m relay: India 38.75, Chinese Taipei A 39.11, Chinese Taipei B 39.75
110m hurdles: Tejas Shirse (India) 13:52, Yuan Kai Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) 13:72, Chen Kui-ru 13:75
Triple Jump: Abdulla Aboobacker (India) 16:21m, Yun Chen Li (Chinese Taipei) 15.92m, Zheng Jia Zhou (Chinese Taipei) 15.59m
4*100m relay: India 44.07, Vietnam 44.38, Chinese Taipei 44.53
100m hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji (India) 12.99, Asuka Terada (Japan) 13.04, Chiasato Kiyoyama (Japan) 13.10
1500m: Pooja (India) 4:11.63, Su Gyon Jon (North Korea) 4:28.03, Hiu Tung Tsang (Hong Kong) 4:34.92
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