EXPLAINED: Why was Indian men's 4x100m relay team disqualified in heats at Asian Athletics Championships

Indian Express

a day ago

The Indian quartet of Manikanta Hoblidar, Amlan Borgohain, Rahul Kumar, and Pranav Gurav competing in the men's 4x100m relay race at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi (South Korea) was disqualified on Friday. The men's 4x100m team, primed for a podium finish, had a confident start in the heats. India finished second behind host Korea as the satisfied team were awaiting the timings before the India team was marked disqualified (DQ) when the official times were displayed.
The disqualification came after India were found guilty of exchanging the baton outside the takeover zone, which breaks the technical rule.
According to World Athletics rule 24.7, 'The baton shall be passed within the takeover zone. The passing of the baton commences when it is first touched by the receiving athlete and is completed the moment it is in the hand of only the receiving athlete. In relation to the takeover zone, it is only the position of the baton which is decisive. Passing of the baton outside the takeover zone shall result in disqualification.'
Reason for India's 4x100m Disqualification Revealed! 🇮🇳💔
India's Men's 4x100m Relay Team was disqualified due to a baton exchange outside the takeover zone between Pranav Gurav and Ragul during the 1st exchange.
📏 This violates World Athletics Rule 24.19, which clearly… https://t.co/qTc1e3Io4w pic.twitter.com/3CwWDqETrj
— nnis Sports (@nnis_sports) May 30, 2025
(Credit: NNIS Sports)
Furthermore, the World Athletics 24.19 reads, 'For all takeovers, athletes are not permitted to begin running outside their takeover zones, and shall start within the zone. If an athlete does not follow this Rule, their team shall be disqualified,' making the changeover done by the Indians invalid.
The Indian quartet that competed in the heats were without their two regular members — Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur — who were replaced by Pranav and Rahul.
The 24.7 rule comes with a description: 'In determining the position of the baton, it is the whole baton which must be considered. Umpires must be diligent to ensure that they observe any contact with the baton prior to the baton entering the change-zone. If the outgoing runner even touches the baton prior to the baton being inside the zone, the team will be subject to disqualification.'
India's 4x100m Men's Relay Team Disqualified from Finals! 😲🇮🇳
Tough start to the day as India's Men's 4x100m Relay Team has been disqualified from the finals at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025.
The team featured two new members — Pranav and Ragul — alongside Manikanta… pic.twitter.com/ce3VU92HrW
— nnis Sports (@nnis_sports) May 30, 2025
(Credit: NNIS Sports)
Earlier, the Indian men's 4x100m relay team was disqualified in a similar fashion in the 2017 Asian Athletics Championship held on home soil in Bhubaneshwar. On Friday, the Malaysian team, too, was also disqualified for the same baton-release violation.
India, at the time of writing, sits second in the medal tally with five gold, six silver and 3 bronze for a total of 14 medals behind China.