Paris 2024 Olympics: What is Rajesh Ramesh's personal best in men's 4x400m relay?
Rajesh Ramesh will participate in the men's 4x400m relay event at the Paris Olympics 2024. Apart from him, the likes of Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan and Mijo Chacko Kurian (alternate athlete) will also present the Indian challenge in the same event.
Ramesh produced his personal best in the men's 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships, Budapest, in August 2023. Along with Anas, Ajmal, and Jacob, he finished the race with a timing of 2:59.05 in their respective heat.
In July 2024, Ramesh clocked his lifetime best of 45.54 in the men’s 400m race at the Warszawskie Zawody Lekkoatletyczne Athletics meet in Poland.
Ramesh gained recognition in 2022 by finishing with gold medals in the 400m events in the national competitions. Meanwhile, the National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru saw him finish first with a timing of 3:06.77 in the men's 4x400m relay.
In 2023 as well, Rajesh Ramesh depicted his brilliance in the 400m events in the national competitions, with a podium finish in most of them. In the Asian Games, Ramesh secured a gold with a timing of 3:01.58 in the men's 4x400m relay event and a silver in the mixed 4x400m relay event.
The Sri Lankan Championships in Diyagama witnessed him secure gold with a timing of 3:02.02 in the men's 4x400m relay and finished with gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok.
How has Rajesh Ramesh fared in 2024?
Rajesh Ramesh participated in only a single event, namely the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, due to injury concerns. During the men's 4x400m relay event on May 4, he suffered a cramp in his leg muscle, which rendered him unable to finish the race.
Interestingly, earlier on the same day, Ramesh had participated in the mixed relay event, where he finished sixth with a timing of 3:20.36. However, Arokia Rajiv replaced him in the 4x400m relay team, as the team finished with a timing of 3:03.23 to secure an Olympic quota.
While injury-free, Rajesh Ramesh would certainly be a key medal contender for India in the Paris Olympics.