Kolkata : Two-time Olympic medallist in men’s javelin throw Neeraj Chopra is among the 32-member strong Indian track and field squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games starting July 23 in Scotland.
Adille Sumariwalla, Chairman Selection Committee, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the national team, including 10 female athletes for the CWG on Sunday. The AFI can field a maximum of 32 athletes, says Sumariwalla.
Neeraj Chopra has been included in the national squad for CWG provided he achieves the qualification mark of 82.61m in the coming days. “He (Neeraj) has recovered from a niggle and has assured that he will achieve the AFI qualification mark shortly,” says Sumariwalla.
Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh are the two other male javelin throwers selected for the CWG and had achieved the qualification mark of 82.61m at the Ludhiana leg of the Indian Athletics Series on Saturday. “The national team for the CWG has been selected as per AFI policy,” says Sumariwalla.
Apart from Neeraj Chopra, triple jumper Selva Prabhu will also have to prove his fitness during the upcoming domestic meet in Bhubaneswar. “He (Selva) has done exceptionally well at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) meet but has to come close to CWG qualification mark of 16.89m in Bhubaneswar,” says AFI’s Chairman of Selection Committee.
AFI will also field a mixed 4x400m relay at the CWG.
At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Indian athletics contingent won eight medals, including gold in men’s triple jump. The Indian team also won four silver and three bronze medals.
Indian track and field squad for CWG:
Men: Gurindervir Singh (100m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Gulveer Singh (5,000m/10,000m), Tejas Ashok Shirse (110mh), Yashas P and Santhosh K (400mh), Sarvesh Anil Kushare and Aadarsh Ram J (high jump), Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar (pole vault), Sreeshankar M and Lokesh Sathyanathan (long jump), Selva Prabhu and Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Samardeep Singh Gill and Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yashvir Singh (javelin throw), Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon and high jump), Vishal TK and Rajesh Ramesh (400m and mixed 4x400m relay).
Women: Parul Chaudhary (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m), Pooja (high jump), Manpreet Kaur (shot put), Seema and Nidhi Rani (discus throw), Ravina and Priyanka (10,000m race walk), Ansa Babu (4x400m relay), Rashdeep Kaur (4x400m relay), Neeru Pathak (4x400m relay).
