# India’s U-20 400m selection questioned after two runners left out 2026-08-06T19:46:20+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India’s U-20 athletics campaign has been hit by a selection controversy, with Mohammed Ashfaq and Bhoomika Nehate allegedly omitted from the 400m line-up after a last-minute change. Deccan Herald reports that both were among India’s fastest quartermilers. The report names 400m coach Nagesh Pillai in connection with the change, but gives no reason for the decision or details of the athletes’ recorded times. The episode has raised concerns over how India finalises entries for major age-group championships, where selection clarity can matter as much as performance on the track. ## Coverage - deccanherald.com Tags: 400m, athletics, selection, U-20 championships Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/indias-u-20-400m-selection-questioned-after-two-runners-left-out/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/indias-u-20-400m-selection-questioned-after-two-runners-left-out/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.