India booked its place in the 4×400m mixed relay final at the Commonwealth Games 2026, advancing as one of the fastest losers after clocking 3:20.98 in the heats.
The Indian quartet finished fourth in their heat, but their time was good enough to secure qualification as the seventh-fastest team overall, keeping their medal hopes alive heading into the final.
Strong Start from Vishal TK
India got off to an encouraging start through Vishal TK, who delivered a composed opening leg.
The national record holder produced a 46.10-second split, handing India an early advantage and placing the team in a strong position after the first exchange.
Momentum Slips Away
The race began to unravel on the second leg as Ansa Babu went out aggressively over the opening 200 metres but struggled to maintain the pace over the final stretch.
She clocked a 53.90-second split, allowing rival teams to move ahead and costing India the advantage built by Vishal.
The final two legs, run by Rajesh Ramesh and Rashdeep Kaur, were unable to recover the lost ground.
Rajesh returned a 47.00-second split, while Rashdeep clocked 53.98 seconds, as India crossed the finish line in fourth place.
Through to the Final
Despite missing out on an automatic qualifying position, India’s 3:20.98 was sufficient to progress on time, earning the team the seventh-fastest qualifying spot for the final.
The performance, however, highlighted areas that will need improvement if India is to challenge the stronger relay nations for a podium finish. While the men’s legs were competitive, the team lost valuable ground during the middle stages of the race.
India also has Neeru Pathak available as the reserve athlete for the mixed relay squad, giving the team management an additional selection option ahead of the final.
With qualification secured, the focus now shifts to producing a cleaner, more balanced performance when the medals are decided.