The Indian contingent was to depart for Amsterdam on April 28 via the KLM flight but it got canceled after the Dutch authorities suspended all flights from India due to the COVID-19 second wave.

After the Indian women’s 4x400m team withdrew from the event citing injuries earlier, all hopes were on the men’s 4×400m and women’s 4x100m teams. The focus was especially on the women’s 4x100m team as they had a great chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after powerhouses USA and Jamaica withdrew from the event.

The women’s 4x100m team included Dutee Chand, Hima Das, Himashree Roy, AT Daneshwari, 2021 Federation Cup women’s 100m champion S Dhanalakshmi and Archana Suseendran. Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Sarthak Bhambri, Naganathan Pandi, Ayyasamy Dharun, Nirmal Noah Tom and Arokia Rajiv constituted the men’s 4x400m side.

The 25-year-old Dutee Chand, a proud owner of the women’s 100m national record with 11.22s, has had a brilliant 2021 so far with two gold medals - the Indian Grand Prix 1 and 2 - already in her pocket. However, Dutee Chand’s only slump came in the Federation Cup last month where she was beaten to silver by S Dhanalakshmi.

Meanwhile, the Odisha sprinter isn’t of the thought that the AFI should have sent them a bit earlier to Poland.

Most countries have barred Indian athletes from participating in their competitions pertaining to the current COVID situation in the Asian country.

No events for track & field athletes likely in May

However, with India recording close to three lakh new cases and around 2000 casualties on a daily basis, no federation would like to risk their athletes and stage any kind of competition in the next month.

The delay in one way has partially paralyzed Hima Das and Dutee Chand’s chances although the Odisha sprinter is confident of making the Tokyo Olympics cut on the basis of the IAAF world rankings.

On Thursday, SAI has adopted a new decision that all the Tokyo Olympics-bound athletes will be able to train in small groups during quarantine. Dutee Chand, who has been training at NIS Patiala for the past month, welcomed the move stating it was needed for the athletes.

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