The Indian mixed 4x400m relay team comprising Muhammed Anas, Hima Das, Poovamma Raju and Arokia Rajiv clinched a silver medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday.
In the debut event, MR Poovamma frittered away a good 30m lead, handed to her by Muhammed Anas, as India finished behind Bahrain.
The Indian quartet clocked 3 minute and 15.71 seconds, while the Bahrain team recorded a timing of 3:11.89 minutes.
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The Athletics Federation of India later lodged a protest against Bahrain for causing obstruction to Hima during the relay race.
The protest has been admitted by the jury of appeals which will give a ruling at 10 am (local time) on Wednesday.
Anas began in spectacular fashion as he opened up a huge 30m lead over his Bahraini rival and handed over the baton to Povamma. By the time she passed on to the baton to Hima, Bahrain had already created a huge lead.
As Hima got the baton, she had to change her lane and sidestep Bahrain's Oluwakemi Adekoya who fell before her, obstructing her way, after passing on the baton to Salwa Naser.
Hima could not cover the distance as Salwa pulled away quickly, leaving Arokia with an unenviable job of covering at least 50m lead.
In the end, India finished second while Kazakshtan bagged the bronze medal with a timing of 3:19.52.
(With inputs from PTI)
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