India’s Top Track and Field Athletes Set for Asian Championships

India’s best athletes are gearing up to compete at the Asian Athletics Championships, taking place in Gumi, South Korea, from May 27th to 31st. The 59-member team, announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), boasts some exciting names, including Praveen Chithravel, Shaili Singh, and Animesh Kujur.

The AFI set rigorous qualification standards for the Championships, requiring athletes to excel in the recent Federation Cup held in Kochi. Most of the selected athletes met these standards during the competition.

However, some notable sprinters, like Gurindervir Singh and Manikanta Hoblidar, who had initially qualified, missed out on a spot in the Asian squad. The AFI’s criteria stipulated a top-two finish at the Federation Cup to solidify their earlier performances. Exceptions were made for athletes consistently performing at an international level, such as Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary.

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra won’t be joining the team due to other international commitments, including the Doha Diamond League and his own Classic event. India, currently ranked third in the all-time Asian Athletics Championship medal tally, will be aiming to build on their impressive six gold medals (out of a total 27) won in the previous edition held in Bangkok, Thailand.