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.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Shejil Verghese (54.48) and Jithin Paul (54.01) also failed to advance. The onus now lies on the 4x400m relay team.

Meanwhile, India’s top middle-distance runner Rajeev Ramesan seems to have got into a not-very-nice habit of missing the Olympic qualification mark by a whisker. The runner, who came desperately close four times in the last five weeks, clocked 1:47.12 to come third in the 800m ‘A’ race at the Sollentuna GP in Sweden on Wednesday. He needed 1:47 to make the cut. Sajeesh Joseph won the men’s 800m ‘B’ race with a time of 1:50.31 seconds.

In the women’s 800m race, India’s Sushma Devi emerged from the shadow of Sinimole Paulose to win silver with a time of 2:03.82. Sinimole had to settle for third place. She clocked 2:04.32.