Date:18/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/18/stories/2008071855812000.htm

Sport - Athletics

Indian team ranked 15th

NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s 4x400m relay team has been ranked 15th in the world in the final ranking list issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Thursday.

India had an average timing of 3:30.42 and slipped from its previous 14th rank by a slot after Brazil came up with a 3:29.11 in the Central American and Caribbean championships in Cali, Columbia, recently to move into the 13th position (average 3:29.00) from its 17th.

The team to go out at the last minute was Italy, 16th in the previous ranking, and now 17th. The top 16 teams in all relays qualified for the Beijing Olympics.

China (average 3:30.95) just managed to make the ‘cut’ at 16th place in the women’s longer relay. China also qualified for the men’s 4x100m relay in 15th place, with Thailand coming behind to complete the line-up.

Japan made it into the qualification list in the men’s 4x100m (fourth), 4x400m (11th) and the women’s 4x400m (14th). — Special Correspondent