Indian sprinting is experiencing an unprecedented golden era, yet its men’s 4x100m relay dreams are collapsing under the weight of poor planning, technical failures, and internal friction.
The renaissance began in October 2023 when Army sprinter Manikanta Hoblidhar clocked 10.23s, shattering Amiya Mallick’s seven-year-old national record. By 2025, Indian sprinting reached a historic peak. Gurindervir Singh lowered the national record to 10.20s, only for Animesh Kujur to obliterate it three months later with a current national record of 10.18s. In 2025 alone, five Indian sprinters combined for a staggering nine sub-10.30s performances:
10.18s – Animesh Kujur
10.19s – Manikanta Hoblidhar
10.20s – Gurindervir Singh
10.22s – Tamilarasu
10.27s – Pranav Gurav
This explosive depth ignited hope for a competitive men’s 4x100m relay squad. In April 2025, that dream looked tangible when the Reliance-backed quartet of Animesh, Manikanta, Gurindervir, and Amlan Borgohain shattered a 15-year-old national record, clocking 38.69s. Suddenly, India was a genuine medal contender for the 2026 Asian Games.
Instead, what followed has been a story of squandered potential.
Despite a promising win at the Taiwan Athletics Open (38.75s) and promises of “special focus” from AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla, the team has repeatedly found itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
In a single year, India was disqualified three separate times under World Athletics Technical Rule 24.7 for passing the baton outside the designated takeover zone:
1. The 2025 Asian Athletics Championships
2. The Open Invitational Relays in Chandigarh
3. Day 2 of the World Relays (following a lacklustre 39.07s run on Day 1)
The recurring technical failures point to a deeper problem. Speaking anonymously to NNIS Sports, a prominent sprint coach blamed the leadership: “The coaching is not up to the mark. That is evident in the way the athletes are exchanging the baton. Team planning has also been poor; there is no consistency in the relay combinations, too much shuffling of running legs, and no proper investment in junior athletes.”
The systemic issues became glaringly obvious during the lead-up to the World Relays. In August 2025, the AFI released a clear selection roadmap. The top six finishers from the 64th National Open Athletics Championships in Ranchi automatically qualified, alongside two wildcard selections based on seasonal merit.
The finalized eight-man squad comprised: Animesh Kujur, Gurindervir Singh, Manikanta Hoblidhar, Pranav Gurav, Harsh, Tamilarasu, Amlan Borgohain, and Ragul.
However, despite the roster being locked in by October 2025, the preparatory camp was inexplicably delayed by nearly five months, only assembling in late February 2026. This left the squad with barely a month of cohesive practice before competing globally.
Furthermore, the appointment of James Hillier, Athletics Director of Reliance Sports (one of the federation’s major sponsors), as the men’s relay coach has raised serious eyebrows regarding a conflict of interest.
“Problems arise when a private company coach is made the national relay coach,” the anonymous coach noted. “They often prioritize the company first, not the nation. This leads to internal conflicts, biased selections, and partiality. You can see the proof in the results.”
An anonymous national team sprinter echoed these concerns, stating that housing the camp at a private organization’s venue made several athletes feel “left out and cornered,” severely damaging team chemistry.
This lack of coordination spilled over into public view during major events. At the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, a selection dispute erupted between Chief Coach Radhakrishnan Nair and Hillier regarding the heat’s lineup, specifically over whether to include Federation Cup champion Pranav Gurav.
Similar friction occurred at the Chandigarh Open Invitational. While the women’s team arrived early and repeatedly requested joint baton practice sessions, the men’s lineup was finalized so late that it derailed overall preparations.
“Right now, every athlete seems focused on outperforming each other individually,” the anonymous sprinter revealed. “In such an environment, how can they come together and run as one unit for the country? Why are the same athletes repeatedly being rotated between the men’s relay and mixed relay teams? Why not provide opportunities to younger athletes?”
The athlete urged the federation to transition to a long-term, accountable training camp system identical to India’s highly successful 4x400m program, overseen by an accountable Indian head coach.
Compounding the administrative chaos is a sudden medical crisis. With less than four months until the 2026 Asian Games, the squad is decimated by injuries:
Amlan Borgohain: Yet to open his season due to injury.
Manikanta Hoblidhar: Recovering from his hamstring injury
Ragul: Left the track in a wheelchair after a heavy fall during a baton exchange.
Tamilarasu: Sidelined during World Relays due to knee pain.
Out of the original eight-man squad, only four athletes remain fully fit.
India possesses the raw, individual speed to match Asia’s best. But facing elite, highly disciplined legacy squads from Japan, China, and Thailand, the biggest question now is whether the AFI can repair its broken internal systems before the clock runs out.