The confusion over the relay team’s Beijing participation is finally over. The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has agreed to recognise the 4x400m squad’s efforts at the Asian Grand Prix competition held in Bangkok and Korat on June 23 and 26 respectively.

The results of the two competitions had brightened India’s chances of participation in Beijing. However, the IAAF refused to recognise the results of the Korat competition on the grounds that the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) had failed to inform the world body of the tournament before the prescribed deadline, so not marking them as qualification events. The IAAF deadline for relay teams to make the cut is July 16, and no more events were scheduled in the interim.

But after AAA secretary-cum-treasurer Maurice R Nicholas’s appeal to the world body, the results have been incorporated in the IAAF charts. The Indian team is now 14th on the ranking list, with the top 16 making the Beijing cut.

In Bangkok, the Indian team had clocked 3:32.55, while in Korat, their time was 3:28.29. The average time of 3:30.84 was enough for qualification. This bit of confusion had threatened to spoil the Indian party as the relay team — that of Chitra K Soman, M R Poovamma, Mandeep Kaur and S Geetha — are one of the more optimistic medal hopes.

Lukka, Bindu miss the final

Tinku Lukka and Bindu Simon Rajam have failed to make it to the final of the women’s 800m race at the 12th IAAF World Junior Athletics championships at Bydgoszcz, Poland. According to information received, Lukka finished third in her semi-final race clocking 2:06.51. Bindu Simon Rajam was seventh in her semi-final, with a timing of 2:10.28.

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