World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26: Complete Guide To India’s Mixed 4x100m And 4x400m Relay Teams

Indian athletes head into the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 in Botswana this weekend, aiming to deliver strong relay performances on a global stage. The prize money meet on 2 May and 3 May is being staged on South African soil for the first occasion, adding further interest around the competition.

The squad arrives after encouraging domestic form, where sprinters from the core national group recorded competitive relay timings. The event offers them an early international test against established relay squads, helping assess current standards and fine-tune combinations ahead of major championships over the next few years.

World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 qualification format and global stakes

All six relay events will begin with qualification rounds on Saturday, followed by second rounds and finals on Sunday.

The opening day heats are crucial, as the top two teams in each heat not only move into the final but also secure an automatic berth for the 2027 Beijing World Athletics Championships.

World Athletics has set 3 May as the second qualification window for the 2027 event, which means Sunday's races carry extra weight for countries chasing early spots. Teams will therefore balance the need for smooth baton exchanges with the pressure of racing for future championship slots.

Indian athletes and relay team line-ups at World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

India's mixed 4x400m relay squad lines up in heat 1 alongside Uganda, Ireland, USA, Belgium, Spain and Australia. The mixed 4x100m relay team appears in heat 2, racing Paraguay, Belgium, Spain, China, USA, France and Poland. India's current mixed 4x100m season best stands at 42.30 seconds, clocked earlier in the season during a domestic meet in Chandigarh.

In the men's 4x400m relay, India is placed in heat 3. Japan is the other Asian nation in this race, which also features Mexico, Switzerland, Qatar, Spain, Belgium and Great Britain. India's best 4x400m timing this season is 3:01.43 from Chandigarh, while the national record remains 2:59.05, set at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships in Hungary.

Indian athletes in 4x100m and 4x400m relays at World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

The men's 4x100m relay team from India races in heat 3 with a season best of 40.47 seconds. The line-up includes China, Poland, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Great Britain. In the women's 4x100m relay, India competes in heat 1 against Ireland, Australia, Canada, USA, Poland and Spain, carrying a season best of 44.18 seconds.

Host nation Botswana heads heat 1 of the men's 4x400m, while Kenya and Zimbabwe, who have season bests of 3:00.34 and 3:00.69 respectively, feature in heat 2. These timings underline the level of opposition India will face if the team reaches the final round of the long relay.

Event	Heat	India season best	Notable opponents
Men's 4x400m	Heat 3	3:01.43	Japan, Belgium, Great Britain
Men's 4x100m	Heat 3	40.47 seconds	China, Brazil, South Africa
Women's 4x100m	Heat 1	44.18 seconds	USA, Canada, Australia
Mixed 4x100m	Heat 2	42.30 seconds	USA, China, France
Mixed 4x400m	Heat 1	Not stated	USA, Spain, Australia

With qualification for the 2027 Beijing World Athletics Championships on offer, Indian relay squads enter the Gaborone meet aware of the stakes. Strong results across the 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed events would confirm progress seen in domestic competitions and help set clear targets for the next phase of training and international preparation.