Malayali quartet carries Indian hopes at Paris Olympics

The Indian men's 4x400m relay quartet has been impressive heading into the Paris Olympics. The team consists of four Keralites in Muhammed Anas, V Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob and Mijo Chacko Kurian. Tamil Nadu athletes Santhosh Tamilarasan and Rajesh Ramesh complete the relay squad. 

This will be Anas' third straight Olympics after Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. "Our ultimate aim is an Olympic medal. If  we can better our World Championships run (2 minutes, 59.05 seconds timed at Budapest in 2023) we are in with an outside chance," Anas told Onmanorama over the phone from Patiala.

The Indians had qualified for the Olympics with a timing of 3: 3.23 to also finish second in their heat behind the US (2:59.95) at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, the Bahamas, in May. The experienced Arokia Rajiv, who picked up a hamstring injury during training, had helped India seal the Olympic berth after Rajesh suffered an injury on the first day of the competition. However, the injury dashed Arokia's Olympic dreams.

The relay team has been training at Patiala for close to two weeks before reaching New Delhi on Wednesday. The team members will leave for Poland on Thursday. "We will be having our training camp in Poland before going to Paris. Prior to the stint at Patiala under Jamaican coach Jason Dawson we were training at LNCPE Kariavattom," said Anas. The 29-year-old from Nilamel in Kollam is a Chief Petty Officer in the Indian Navy.

Amoj, whose parents are from Kottayam, was born and brought up in New Delhi. This is the 26-year-old's second Olympics and the Bank of India employee will be eyeing a fine show. Amoj, along with Anas, Ajmal and Rajesh, had set an Asian record at the Budapest Worlds. The Indians came second only to the US in their heat before finishing fifth in the final. The same quartet fired India to gold-medal finish at the Asian Games at Hangzhou, China, last year.

Cherpulassery native Ajmal came up with the best run among the four when India clinched gold at Hangzhou. The 26-year-old Indian Navy athlete also won a silver in 400m at Hangzhou besides picking up a silver in 4x400m mixed relay.

Mijo, who has his roots in Alappuzha, made a name for himself during his days at St Aloysius Collège, Mangalore. He was a member of the Indian squad which emerged victorious at Hangzhou. The 28-year-old is a Junior Warrant Officer with the Indian Air Force.

Anas, Amoj, Ajmal and Rajesh are likely to be India's first choice in Paris. The men's 4x400m relay action begins at Stade de France on August 9 and the country's focus will be on Anas & Co.