JOIN USAs promised, the Athletics Federation of India has announced the qualifying guidelines for selection of the National teams for the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year.
Instead of standards, the marks have been called guidelines, making it apparent that there would be an amount of flexibility to these timings and distances. But no period has been specified within which an athlete has to reach the marks.
“We will consider the performances even at these Nationals but the important thing is, the athletes should be able to maintain that form and fitness closer to the competition,” said Bahadur Singh, the chief National coach.
“They will also need to perform at our qualification meet,” he said.
The standards are based on the previous Asian and Commonwealth Games. And in most events, they are close to the fourth-place performance in these competitions. In some events, the targets are stiffer.
The AFI said the idea would be to select only one athlete per event. “If deemed tactically or technically necessary or in cases where there is a probability of winning more than one medal more than one athlete attaining the qualifying standard will be selected,” the AFI stated.
It also maintained that standards achieved abroad in competitions not recognised by AFI would not be considered. “Participation in final selection trial of any event organised by AFI is mandatory to be considered for selection in the team until and unless AFI exempts an athlete from participation on his/her request due to specified reason or as per the advice of an AFI expert,” it further explained.
The standards are available on the AFI website, indianathletics.in.