The Athletics Federation of India nominated a 37-member roster for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, led by Neeraj Chopra, with a number of entrants requiring qualifying marks in Kazakhstan later this month.
Long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, who had met the AFI requirement in the Federation Cup in April, and marathoner Srinu Bugatha, who had done the same in January, were both left out.
Tejaswin Shankar, a high jumper who just broke the 2.27m barrier in the NCAA, was not considered. Before the final list, the Indian contingent is expected to compete at the XXXI Qosanov Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour event, in Kazakhstan on June 25-26.
“There are a few athletes we have included whose performances we are not satisfied with and their entries will be subject to achieving the standard in Kazakhstan,” AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said. These include shot-putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor and discus thrower Seema Punia.
Javelin throwers Rohit Yadav and Manu DP, 3000m steeplechase Avinash Sable, and triple jumpers Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chitravel, and Eldhose Paul, as well as long jumpers Sreshankar and Md. Anees Yahiya, are among the 19 men and 18 women competing. “We have a quota of 36 athletes, and we’re looking for help from the Indian Olympic Association to expand our quota and gain accreditation for a handful of them,” Sumariwalla explained.
Bhavana Jat in the 10k walk and quartermiler Amoj Jacob, who was hurt in the Inter-State meet recently, are among those whose participation will be contingent on fitness. Sumariwalla indicated Sable will compete in the 5000m as well, depending on the CWG timetable.
Asked about the missing names, Sumariwalla was categorical. “Jeswin has been constantly slipping in the last four meets. Tejaswin neither sought an exemption from participating in Inter-State meet nor permission to train and perform abroad despite us being in constant touch with him. Our rules are very clear,” he explained.
Interestingly, Srabani Nanda, training in Jamaica for the last few years, has been included in the 4x100m relay although AFI rules also state that no non-camper would be considered for relay teams. “She had our permission to train abroad,” AFI Planning Committee chairman Lalit Bhanot said, adding that even Jilna and Dutee were training separately with permission. “They are all in camp now and will train together,” he added.
THE SQUAD:
Men: Avinash Sable (3000SC, 5000m), Amoj Jacob, Moah Nirmal Tom, Arokia Rajiv, Md. Ajmal, Naganathan Pandi, Rajesh Remesh (4x400m relay), Nitender Rawat (marathon), Neeraj Chopra, Manu DP, Rohit Yadav (javelin throw), M. Sreeshankar, Md. Anees Yahiya (long jump), Abdulla Aboobacker, Praveen Chitravel, Eldhose Paul (triple jump), Sandeep Kumar, Amit (10km walk).
Women: Dhanalakshmi (100m, 4x100m relay), Jyothi Yarraji (100mH), Manpreet Kaur (shot put), Annu Rani (javelin), Aishwarya B (long jump, triple
jump), Ancy Sojan (long jump), Bhavna Jat, Priyanka Goswamy (10km
walk), Hima Das, Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda, Jilna MV, Simi NS (4x100m
relay).
Conditional entries: Tajinder Pal Singh Toor (shot put), Navjeet Kaur and Seema Punia (discus throw), Sarita R. Singh and Manju Bala Devi (hammer throw), Shilpa Rani (javelin).
