Totally tangential: Did you see the Indian 4x400m relay team made the world finals, but in qualifying, dared to try to pass the US team on the final leg? India

Totally tangential: Did you see the Indian 4x400m relay team made the world finals, but in qualifying, dared to try to pass the US team on the final leg? India has never had a particularly good track and field team, but allegedly they are encouraging running and fitness more there. For those that don't know, the US 4x400m relay team in track and field is about the most dominant thing ever. If they don't drop the stick, it is assumed they are going to win. Even the qualifier team virtually always wins the heats. So an unknown like India having the temerity to try to take the lead against the US team is a huge shot across the bow. It seemed significant for other reasons. First, based on very light googling and looking at names, the team was of mixed religion with two Muslims (two guys with Muhammed first names) and two Hindi-seeming names. They seemed to genuinely like each other and support each other. That might have progressive steps for the long standing religious conflicts in India, that a mixed religion team came together for a historic moment in Indian athletics. Second, track might be a very interesting sport for "echoes of caste system" India (there was just a Caste news on HN a day ago so it's still obviously somewhat important). Unlike any team sport with selection, in track, if you are faster, well .... you're faster. Doesn't matter the race / religion / caste / connections, if you can run a 50 second 400m and the other guy runs a 53, it is VERY apparent who wins or should be selected for a team. Track and fitness in general is a kind of class-smasher in that regard, and could be a harbinger of big (positive) social change. But maybe I'm reading a bit too much into a small sample. Also, an Indian won the Javelin throw, beat a Pakistani who got silver, and there were two other Indians in the top six.