Paris 2024 Olympics: Why is Kiran Pahal not included in Indian women's 4x400m relay team? 

Indian quarter-miler Kiran Pahal has not been included in the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team as the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has opted to stick to its policy of selecting national campers for the relay team.

For the same reason, the Haryana girls Kiran Pahal and Deepanshi have been excluded from the relay squad announced by the AFI on Thursday, July 4. Notably, Kiran Pahal hogged the limelight with her exceptional running abilities at the Inter-State National Athletics Meet in Panchkula, Haryana.

However, Kiran, who finished with 50.92 seconds in the semi-finals and finals of the women’s 400m event, will continue to run in the women’s 400m individual event at the forthcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to start on July 26.

Though Kiran was initially part of the national camp, later she was in and out of the camp due to her hamstring injury and inconsistent performances.

The AFI is also of the opinion that non-national campers could be on dope and that is why it has a policy of excluding them from relay teams.

On Thursday, July 4, the non-camper Deepanshi, who finished second in the Panchkula Meet with 52.01s, tested positive. The in-competition dope sample, which was taken on June 27 contained anabolic steroids.

In 2019, Nirmala Sheoran's positive dope test cost India two gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships 2017.

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Kiran Pahal competed in the 4x400m mixed relay team at Panchkula Meet

Making a comeback after over a year, Kiran Pahal created history after becoming the second fastest Indian women's quarter-miler after Hima Das (50.79 seconds), set at the Asian Games in 2018.

Surprisingly, Kiran competed in the Indian 4x400m mixed relay team at the Inter-State Nationals in a last-minute desperate attempt to qualify for Paris. However, the team couldn’t make the cut.

The Indian team’s goal was to clock 3:11.87 to go past Kenya (3:11.88) and take the 16th spot. But the India A quartet of Muhammed Anas, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Muhammed Ajmal, and Kiran clocked 3:12.87 to win the race but failed to grab the Paris 2024 quota.

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