Ashwini may miss National Games

A C Ashwini, double gold medallist at the Asian Games, will in all probability miss the February 12 to 26 Games after injuring her hand during training.Ashwini has a fracture on her left hand and her training has been hampered by the injury. While that will certainly be a blow to Karnataka, the presence of a clutch of top athletes should boost their chances.

Sprinters B G Nagaraj and H M Jyothi, besides high jumper Sahana Kumari are certainties even though the Games have been scheduled too early in the season.
The inter-railway meet is also scheduled just prior to the Games – February 9-11 in Chennai.

The State team was announced on Thursday without any trials, a decision that has come under question from some quarters. Former Asian Games medallist S D Eashan was among those aggrieved by the move, stating that he had written to the Karnataka Olympic Association on the matter.

KAA secretary Satyanarayana explained there wasn’t enough time to hold the trials. “We have selected the team based on last season’s performances and also the results in university competitions,” he said.The last National Games were held in Guwahati in 2007.