A 12-member Indian contingent led by experienced campaigners Ram Baboo and Manju Rani will represent India at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, scheduled to be held in Brasília, Brazil, on April 12.
The team departs for Brazil on Thursday night after a last-minute clearance of visas allowed the athletes to travel for the global event.
The Indian squad features a blend of established names and emerging talent. In the men’s category, Ram Baboo and Sandeep Kumar will contest the Marathon Race Walk event, while Hardeep, Sahil, Servin Sebasthiyan, and Akshdeep Singh will compete in the Half Marathon Race Walk. The women’s squad includes Payal, Priyanka Goswami, and Manju Rani in the Marathon Race Walk, while Mansi Negi, Munita Prajapati, and Ravina will participate in the Half Marathon Race Walk.
Confirmation of the team’s departure came from a senior official of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), who confirmed that all visa-related issues had been resolved. “Yes, the team is leaving for Brazil tonight. The athletes have got their visas cleared,” the official said.
This edition of the championships features a revamped competition format. Traditional 20km and 35km race walking events have been replaced by a new structure that includes Half Marathon and Marathon Race Walk events at the senior level, along with a 10km event for the U20 category. The change aligns with World Athletics’ ongoing efforts to modernise race walking and align it more closely with road racing formats.
The competition in Brasília will not only test athletes individually but will also see them compete for team honours. Each nation is allowed to field up to five athletes per event, with the top three finishers from each team counting towards the team standings. To be eligible for a team ranking, at least three athletes from a country must finish the race. If fewer than three finish, the country’s athletes will still be classified individually, but the team will not be eligible for the team classification.
Team scoring is calculated based on the combined finishing positions of the top three athletes from each nation. The lower the cumulative score, the better the team’s ranking. In junior competitions, the top two finishers from each country count toward the team score.
Win Exciting Prizes by Playing Sports Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
For India, the event presents an opportunity to benchmark performance at the international level against some of the world’s strongest race walkers. Ram Baboo, who has been a consistent performer for India in recent seasons, will lead the men’s Marathon Race Walk challenge alongside Sandeep Kumar. Their experience will be vital in navigating the demands of the longer distance.
In the women’s Marathon Race Walk, Manju Rani will be joined by Payal and Priyanka Goswami. Goswami, a seasoned athlete with experience in major international competitions, will be expected to play a key role in the team’s performance. The Half Marathon events will also provide a platform for younger athletes such as Mansi Negi and Ravina to gain valuable international exposure.
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships serve as an important global event, offering both ranking points and competitive experience against top-tier opposition. For India, the championships are also part of the broader roadmap leading up to major international competitions in the coming years.
With the squad now on its way to Brazil, attention will turn to race day, where India will aim to deliver strong performances across both individual and team categories. The competition promises to be a stern test of endurance, technique, and tactical discipline, as the Indian walkers look to make their mark on the world stage.
