Amoj Jacob, one of the runners in the men's 4x400m relay quartet that came close to shattering the USA's aura of invincibility at the World Athletics Championships recently, said on Tuesday he was confident India would win the Asian Games gold, and would also aim for an Olympic podium finish if it qualifies.
The 4x400m relay team smashed the Asian record in a stunning race, clocking 2 minute 59.05 seconds in the heat to qualify for its maiden final round of the Worlds in Budapest last week.
The quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh finished second behind USA to make it to the final of the event before it finished fifth among six teams in the showdown.
Jacob, the second runner in the quartet, said that after shattering the Asian record of 2:59.51, "barring unforseen circumstances, we will win the Hangzhou Asian Games gold, and will also aim for a podium finish at the Olympic next year (if we qualify)".