JOIN USApart from the hosts, defending champions Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry will be the competing states. Karnataka’s hopes are mainly in the under-20 and under-18 categories, with Rebecca Jose (100M and 200M), G M Aishwarya (heptathlon), Harshith S (high jump) and Arshad M (long jump) being the medal prospects. In the middle distance, the hosts chance lies with KC Shruthi (under-20, 800M and 1500M).
The absence of Nirupama Sunderraj, who is attending the Indian camp at the Sports Authority of India, Bangalore, will be a huge blow for the state. Rebecca too was called for the camp on Wednesday but the State coaches said they were hopeful that she will get permission to compete in the meet on Thursday. Rebecca had won a sprint double in the State junior championship at the same venue last week.
Karnataka had finished fourth last year in Ernakulam, where hosts Kerala had ruled the roost. Kerala’s main prospects include Ashwathy Mohan (under-20, 400M), Neema (U-20, long jump), Pranav (U-20, triple jump), Priyanka (U-18, long jump) and Sujith Kuttan (U-14, 100M), son of former national long jump record-holder Mercy Kuttan.
State teams
Boys: U-20: Vishwambav Kolekar, Iftekar Ahmed, Shamini Suvarna, Vidya Sagar, Akash B Rao, Sukesh, Sunil, Mallesh S Dhanawade, Joela Cardoza, Khaseem, Samarth Sadashiv, B Chetan, Sayed Zejah, Robin K Francis, Chand Basha, M Arshad, Carl Britto, Pradeep Patil, Channabasappa Jalihala, Salman Abbas, Manju MR, K Aiyappa, Deepak S, Raghavendra, CS Naveen, B Rahul, Krishnappa, Supreeth, Chetan, Shadad Byavad, Sumanth KP, Rahul V, Bharath KA. U-18: Ravi M, Yarayya, S Harshith, Hamdan Faiz, BC Kenchappa, Amith, Tanuj Batavia, Vishal Vikram, Vinod S Hugar, Akshay B Thalwar, Samshev, Sridhar S Bhajanthri, Samarth Lonthe, Vishwanath Devel, Mohammed Hibban Shabanare, Allen D Shilpa, Srikanth Madhyastha, Rayappa, Yellappa, LI Maniyak, Qatheen, Raviraj, Jeevan KS, Baval Patel, Nagaraj RA, Guruprasad, Abdul Hameed, Nanayya, Basavaraj S Nagade, Mallesh HR, Nityananda, Ramu G, Varadaraj Shenoy. U-16: Mahesh, Hanumanth J, Dhanush J, Sai Raj, Manjunath, Jose Sandesh, Shiva Kumar, Ravi G Gowda, KS Chandraj, Prasad V, Md Sabiyan Akram, Shiradone SR, Suraj Mandal, Bhimanna Gowda, FU Bangi, Irwin Glendsoane, Raghu AK, Sachin UP, Rolson Pereira, P Santhosh, Yallappa M Belekumari, Shashikanth, PB Bhanjanthri. U-14: Kundana Kumar, Kashinath, Jeetendra, Vittal, Ashiqu KK, Tarun S, Lakshman, Gangsagar, Chetal SP, Vedanth, Abhishek M.
Girls: U-20: KC Shruthi, Shubha NA, Aishwarya, Jolly VM, Sushma S, Sadhana Baskar, Madhu Smitha, KB Asha, Chaitra, Abilasha, Jeevitha V, Raksha, Sushmitha Devadas, TR Shruthi, N Anitha, Padmini, Rebecca Jose, Ankitha, Chaitra Thimmaiah, Pallavi Sukuma, Vibha B Shankar, Sharmila K, Deepika, Anitha, Poonam Y Kole, Shajahani, Bhavya. U-18: Farheen Saikh, Lavanya Chandrashekar, Priyanka S Kalagi, Shalini Naik, Manisha, Chandini, Prajna S Prakash, PB Sumitra, Kavya, BT Priyanka, S Anitha, KB Rani, Vishalakshi GB, M Arpitha, Shradda Rani Desai, K Yashaswini, Rashmi K, Bharani C Gowda, Kavitha PC, Keerthi, Nityashree, Pavithra, Ramyashree, Manisha, Baby Sumaya, Namitha GG, Sumithra.
U-16: Archana KA, Priyanka V, Smitha Bhaskar, Priyanka JC, Sowbhagya Lakshmi, S Praneetha Pradeep, Nischitha, Meghana Shetty, Srishti Sunil, Abhimathi SN, Ranjan Bhadri, Sowbhagya Lakshmi, GB Deekshitha, Pallavi HR, Anusha K, Chaithra BS, M Shwetha, Sushmitha, HN Kavya, Veena Kulkarni, Priyanka. U-14: Chitra KA, Simona, Vaishali Somaiah, Deeksha, Ashwini, Annapoorna G, Namitha GK, Uma PS, Varsha R, Deshna Shroff.