JOIN USIndia will be represented by 45 men and 39 women, who will compete against athletes from 15 Asian countries including China in the $25,000 prize money event.
Going by form and track record, India will be hopeful of a few gold medals in the women’s section, while the men will have a tough challenge in the day-and-night event.
All eyes will be on PT Usha’s protege Tintu Luka, who was in sizzling form at the 50th National Open Athletics Championships in Kochi last month. Tintu, who set a meet record 2:01.61s in the 800M apart from clinching gold in the 400M in Kochi, will be eyeing the top place once again.
She will have challengers in Kazakhstan’s Margarita Matsko and Viktoria Supronova, though the duo have inferior timings than the Indian. India will also look forward to a medal in women’s discus throw but if China send their top throwers, the hosts will have little chance.
With ace 400M runner Manjeet Kaur pulling out at the last moment, India will have to depend on Ratnadeep Kaur (best of 55.49s) in the event that also features Kazakhstan’s Marina Maslyonko (52.68s) and Sri Lankan Chandrika Subashini Rasnayaka (53.41).
National Open gold medallist Sharda Narayan and HM Jyothi will be India’s hopes in women’s 100M, which includes Doha Asiad champion Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan.
Bhanot to step down
Ravinder Chaudhary of Chandigarh is likely to replace Lalit K Bhanot as Athletics Federation of India secretary on Tuesday.
Bhanot, who is also holding the secretary general’s post in the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said he will propose Chaudhury’s name as AFI secretary as he is busy with CWG activities.