Men’s & Mixed 4x400m Relay Squads Face Global Heavyweights at World Relays 2025
As the World Athletics Relays 2025 kick off in Guangzhou on May 10–11, Team India’s 4x400m relay squads are set to face a stiff test in their quest for qualification to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The start lists are out — and both the men’s and mixed teams find themselves in highly competitive heats, setting up an intense Day 1 of action.
Men’s 4x400m Relay: A Battle of Giants in Heat 4
India’s men’s quartet has been drawn in Heat 4, and the challenge couldn’t be tougher. Sharing lanes with USA, Kenya, France, Poland, and Zimbabwe, the Indian squad will need to deliver a near-perfect race to grab one of the two automatic qualification spots for Tokyo.
- India’s Season Best (SB): 3:04.31
- Heat 4 Overview:
- USA enters with a SB of 3:01.37 and a national record of 2:54.29 — historically the strongest 4x400m team globally.
- Kenya has clocked 3:00.87 this season and owns a NR of 2:59.63.
- France (NR: 2:58.45) and Poland (NR: 2:58.00) have both gone under 3 minutes historically.
- Zimbabwe comes in with a SB of 3:03.42.
With a season-best of 3:04.31, India ranks 4th in the heat, ahead of only France and Poland in current season timings. However, those teams carry much faster national records, indicating their potential to step up.
Indian Men: Who to Watch
The NCOE (National Centre of Excellence) athletes have shown strong form recently, and their performance here will hinge on clean baton transitions and a powerful finish.
Given the quality of the field, India’s realistic path may lie in securing one of the fastest non-automatic spots, which will be decided on Day 2 — but they’ll be going all out to seal Tokyo qualification on Day 1 itself.
Mixed 4x400m Relay: India in Heat 2 vs Great Britain & Botswana
India’s mixed 4x400m relay team — a blend of emerging women’s and men’s talent — has been slotted in Heat 2 alongside Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Botswana, Ireland, and Italy.
- India’s Season Best: 3:19.24 (clocked at Indian Open)
- National Record (NR): 3:12.87
- Top Teams in Heat 2:
- Great Britain leads the pack with a NR of 3:08.01 and SB of 3:16.49.
- Botswana (NR: 3:13.99) and Ireland (3:09.92) have also clocked strong times.
- Italy (NR: 3:10.69) rounds out the heat.
With a season-best that places them 5th out of 5 teams, India will need a significant improvement to keep up with the leading pack. However, the national record of 3:12.87 shows they have the potential — and with smart runner combinations, they could spring a surprise.
India’s Mixed Quartet: Youth in Spotlight
The Indian Open saw the combination of Sneha K, Rupal, Jay Kumar, and Vishal TK (NCC 1 C) clock 3:19.24 — an encouraging time given their experience levels. It remains to be seen if this same team will feature in Guangzhou or if a more seasoned lineup will be fielded.
Given the presence of multiple nations with sub-3:13 capabilities, the Indian team must go close to their national record to remain in contention. The top two from each heat qualify directly to the World Championships, with a repechage round offering another shot on Day 2.
What’s at Stake?
The World Relays serve as the official qualification event for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Only the top two teams from each heat will secure direct entry into the Championships on Day 1. Teams that don’t qualify will have a second opportunity in the repechage round on Day 2 — making Day 1 a high-pressure affair.
India’s relay teams head into Guangzhou with strong aspirations and no illusions about the competition they face. With giants like the USA, Kenya, Great Britain, and France in the fray, the challenge is immense. But Indian athletes have consistently risen to the occasion in recent years, and another inspired performance could well be on the cards.
As the countdown begins, fans across the country will be watching closely. Can the men’s team match their sub-3:00 ambitions? Can the mixed relay team close the gap on world-class competitors?
All eyes on Guangzhou. Best of luck, Team India!
