How Rajesh Ramesh injury couldn’t stop relay team from Olympic qualification | Sport-others News
Amoj Jacob has revealed that injury to Rajesh Ramesh didn’t deter their team to earn the Olympic spot at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas earlier this month.
India had failed to finish in the first-round qualifying heat after second leg runner Rajesh Ramesh pulled out midway due to cramps. Rajiv took the place of Ramesh in the team and he ran the third leg after Anas and Ajmal.
“It was easy because we were practicing together. And we had trained the baton exchange with different combinations. The only concern was to ensure that no one else got injured,” Jacob told SAI Media.
“In fact, it is easier than 100 meters relay where better coordination is required. So, it was an easy transition for us. And because Rajiv was with us for a long time, he was in the camp, he was our senior. So, he knew what to expect and what not. And it was easy only,” he added.
The Indian men’s squad comprising Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Arokia Rajiv and Jacob qualified for the Paris Games after finishing second in the heat.
The Indian quartet finished with a collective timing of 3 minutes and 3.23 with USA (2:59.95) expectedly topping the heat.“We knew that we had the US in our Heats and they mostly run below 3 minutes. So, our plan was to stay close to them in the race, which will not only improve our time but also help us qualify for Paris Games,” said Jacob.
“Our target was to reger a time between 3:00 and 3:10 so that our confidence is high going into the Paris Olympics,” he added.
The 26-year-old added that reaching Bahamas a month before the competition helped the team acclimatise to the conditions well, which was key in securing Olympic qualification.
“The acclimatisation in the Bahamas was very useful. The time zone difference would have made things difficult for us. We were unable to sleep or recover well. It was good that we went a month earlier. And we were all ready for the competition two weeks prior. Then we worked out and got there and qualified,” he said.
