The Indian 4×400 Mixed Relay team’s silver medal in 2018 Jakarta Asian Games has been officially upgraded to gold after the disqualification of original winners Bahrain due to a doping ban handed to one of its runners.

The Indian quartet of Mohammad Anas, M R Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv of the Mixed Relay team are declared gold medallist in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games after the original winners from Bahrain are disqualified due to doping ban.

Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya, a member of the relay team, was handed a four-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test for steroid stanozolol in 2019.  Kemi Adekoya, a member of the relay team, was handed a four-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test for steroid stanozolol in 2019.

India’s Mixed Relay team had clocked 3:15.71 secs while Bahrain’s gold medal winning time was 3:11.89 secs. India’s mixed relay team comprising of Mohammed Anas, Rajiv Arokia, Hima Das and MR Poovamma had clocked 3:15.71 secs while Bahrain’s gold medal winning time was 3:11.89 secs.

With this medal India’s gold medal tally in track and field thus increased to nine. Adille Sumariwalla, president of Athletics Federation India said this news would be a morale booster for 400m runners, particularly the mixed relay team members, preparing for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games. “We are confident the national team will make an impact at the global level next year,” he said. India’s mixed relay team qualified for the Olympics last year at Doha World Athletics Championships.

Hima Das dedicated this medal to the frontline covid fighters and expressed joy. She wrote on her social media wall, “Really happy that our Silver medal of 4×400 mixed relay team at the Asian Games 2018 is upgraded to Gold now. I would like to dedicate my upgraded gold medal of 4×400 mixed relay event of Asian Games 2018 to police, doctors and all other Coronawarriors who are working selflessly in these difficult times of Covid-19 to ensure our safety and good health.”