Obstruction, heartbreak, appeals: Why women’s 1500m T54 will be raced again after crash and initial gold for Scotland's Melanie Woods

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The women’s 1500m T54 final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be raced again after a disqualification for obstruction and ”heartbreak” as three Para-athletes did not finish - meaning Scotland’s Melaine Woods will have to try to win gold for a second time.

Watch the dramatic crash in T54 1500m final - that will be re-run

Video credit: TNT Sports

Woods set a new Games record as she won the race on Wednesday ahead of Canada’s Nandini Sharma.

However, the race was marred by a crash on the first corner which took out almost half the field.

Sharma was disqualified for obstruction for her role in the incident, a decision which Team Canada unsuccessfully appealed against.

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Team Australia and Team Mauritius then lodged appeals for the race to be re-held - and those appeals were successful.

A statement from Glasgow 2026 organisers said: ”The jury of appeal considered these appeals and upheld the decisions to maintain the disqualification of the athlete Nandini Sharma (CAN) and decided to hold the race again.

”The Technical Delegate, Competition Management, Event Presentation, Broadcast and other involved groups then discussed when the race could be staged in the most efficient manner considering the athletes concerned and the competition in general.

”It was agreed that the race should be held on Friday, July 31 at 10:24. The medal ceremony will be held on Friday, July 31 at 18:48 as the last ceremony in the group of presentations before the start of competition that evening.”

The early crash in the race left Woods and Sharma vying for the lead, having pulled away from the other two challengers.

Woods pulled to win in a Games record of 3:33.39, with England’s Ellis Kottas moved up to silver following Sharma’s disqualification.

However, those results will not stand following the decision to stage the race again. Team England have said they are "incredibly disappointed" with the decision.

"While there is no formal protest process available to us, we have strongly challenged the decision," Jonny Riall, England's chef de mission said.

"The race officials did not halt the race at the time of the incident, nor was any immediate decision made to declare the race void or order a rerun.

"Ellis and the team therefore proceeded on the understanding that all competition procedures had been completed and the result confirmed."

Noemi Alphonse of Mauritius initially collided with Australia’s Eliza Ault-Connell to spark chaos on the first corner.

Noemi Alphonse of Team Mauritius looks on as Melanie Woods celebrates

Image credit: Getty Images

Alphonse was sent tumbling to the track and although Ault-Connell stayed upright, she couldn’t keep control and veered into another Para-athlete.

A fourth was sent off course towards the advertising hoarding.

”It’s heartbreak but at the same time it’s the drama of sport and of wheelchair races,” said Paralympic sprinter Jonnie Peacock on TNT Sports.

”We have seen crashes time and time again. There is no love lost between these athletes when they are out there.”

Several of the Para-athletes will now be facing a busy Friday morning as they compete in the rescheduled 1,500m and also the 400m event.

The heats for the 400m take place at 12:05 UK time, around 90 minutes after the 1,500m.

A statement from Team Scotland said: "We note the decision of the Jury of Appeal regarding the Women's T54 1500m final.

"Melanie Woods and Joanna Robertson will now prepare to compete again on Friday in the rerun."

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