New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has selected a 37-member Indian athletics team, led by Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. No big surprise. Of the 37 selected by the AFI’s selection committee, 18 are women, with star sprinters Hima Das and Dutee Chand making it to the women’s 4x100m relay team. The selectors also selected the men’s 4x400m relay team.
The team also features Avinash Sable, who recently broke his own 3000m steeplechase national record for the eighth time, as well as Jyoti Yaraji, who broke his own 100m hurdles NR twice last month. It also stars Aishwarya Babu, who broke her own triple jump national record with an impressive effort of 14.14m during the recent National Inter-State Championships in Chennai. However, 200m national record holder Amlan Borgohain, who won the sprint double (100m and 200m) during the national inter-state, missed the bus as he could not reach the CWG qualifying standard set by the AFI.
However, even after being selected, some athletes will have to prove their form and fitness before the Birmingham Games. Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia has been given a chance to feature in her fifth Commonwealth Games in view of her past performance in the Games. However, his participation in a competition in the United States is subject to reaching the qualifying standard set by the AFI.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has today confirmed that Tejaswin, the only athlete to have achieved the CWG qualifying mark of 2.27m (determined by the AFI), has not been selected. https://t.co/qqN6vDLzod- Andrew (@AndrewAmsan) June 16, 2022
Punia has won a medal in each of the four Commonwealth Games she has previously participated in.
AFI President Adille Sumariwala said, “Seema Punia’s participation in the CWG will entirely depend on her performance in the USA.” They have been allowed to train and compete in the United States, taking into account the previous results of the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. ,
There’s no better feeling than being back on track! It is a great pleasure to start my 2022 season with a personal best throw of 89.30m. Thanks to @paavonurmigames for the great experience and congratulations to Oliver Hellender on the win. Next stop @KuortaneGames.
__________support ______________| ____ pic.twitter.com/FO7INKMagq- Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj_chopra1) June 15, 2022
The men’s javelin throw at the Birmingham Games will feature three Indians including DP Manu and Rohit Yadav along with Chopra. The same goes for the men’s triple jump, with Abdullah Abubakar, Praveen Chitravel and Aldhos Paul making it to the team.
Sumariwalla said, “We are requesting the Indian Olympic Association to help increase our quota one by one and get recognition for some athletes. We have done some disciplines to prove their fitness and form before the Games. also selected.”
The AFI has been given a quota of 36 in the Indian team for the Games to be held from July 28 to August 8.
Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor will look to do well in Kazakhstan, while Amoz Jacob has been selected in the men’s 4x400m relay team subject to his recovery and fitness level.
Jacob pulled his hamstring while running in the last leg of the India ‘A’ team during the Inter State Championship.
“Similarly, discus throwers Navjit Kaur Dhillon and Seema Antil Punia as well as hammer thrower Sarita Singh will have to perform in Kazakhstan or California. Race walker Bhavna Jat will have to prove her fitness,” the AFI president said.
National record holder high jumper Tejaswin Shankar, who won gold at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2022 in the US with a season-best performance of 2.27m last week, was not selected as he did not participate in the national inter-state . Nor did he ask for a discount.
crew:
Men: Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase); Nitender Rawat (marathon); M Sreeshankar and Mohammad Anees Yahia (long jump); Abdullah Abubakar, Praveen Chitravel and Aldhos Paul (triple jump); Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put); Neeraj Chopra, DP Manu and Rohit Yadav (javelin throw); Sandeep Kumar and Amit Khatri (Race Walking); Amoz Jacob, Noah Nirmal Tom, Arokia Rajeev, Mohammad Ajmal, Nagnathan Pandy and Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m relay).
Women: S Dhanalakshmi (100m and 4x100m relay); Jyoti Yaraji (100m hurdles); Aishwarya B (Long Jump and Triple Jump) and Anse Sojan (Long Jump); Manpreet Kaur (shot put); Navjit Kaur Dhillon and Seema Antil Punia (discus throw); Annu Rani and Shilpa Rani (javelin thrower); Manju Bala Singh and Sarita Romit Singh (Hammer Throw); Bhawna Jat and Priyanka Goswami (Race Walking); Hima Das, Dutee Chand, Sarbani Nanda, MV Jilana and NS Simi (4x100m relay).
