Awkward baton change pushed by Ukraine hampered India chances in world relays Baton changing blunder between Poovamma Raju and Sarita Gayakwad in the second exchange partly due to push by Ukraine hampered India’s chance to qualify for the finals as they finished fifth in the 4x400M relay heat clocking seasonal best 3:31.93 seconds at IAAF World Relays at Yokohama, Japan.
Raju who was a bit slow in the first 200m came back strongly in the home stretch but she was far away to change the baton to Sarita Gayakwad who was then pushed by Ukraine as Sarita attempt to get close to Poovamma to take the baton. Sarita had to turn a circle on the spot to take the baton which would have scraped at least two seconds from the timing as India ended up in 18th position at the moment.
PS: Ukraine Disqualified (IAAF Rule 163.2(b) – Jostling / Obstruction)
Official Result
| POS | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | REACTION TIME |
| 1 | CAN | CANADA |  |
3:28.75 Q | 0.159 |
| 2 | JAM | JAMAICA |  |
3:28.80 Q SB | 0.208 |
| 3 | CHN | PR OF CHINA |  |
3:31.01 SB | 0.206 |
| 4 | IND | INDIA |  |
3:31.93 SB | 0.178 |
| 5 | NGR | NIGERIA |  |
3:32.10 SB | 0.199 |
| 6 | LTU | LITHUANIA |  |
3:38.72 SB | 0.146 |
| UKR | UKRAINE |  |
DQ | 0.177 |
Race Result
1 UKRAINE 3:27.71 Q SB 0.177
2 CANADA 3:28.75 Q 0.159
3 JAMAICA 3:28.80 q SB 0.208
4 PR OF CHINA 3:31.01 SB 0.206
5 INDIA 3:31.93 SB 0.178
6 NIGERIA 3:32.10 SB 0.199
7 LITHUANIA 3:38.72 SB 0.146
