AFI raises the bar for Commonwealth Games qualification

Bengaluru: Athletics Federation of India (AFI) set the standards high for the qualification of Commonwealth Games with a maximum of 32 spots, including 16 female athletes, up for grabs for the quadrennial event in Glasgow in July-August.

In more than 10 events — including 100m, 400m and hurdles — track and field athletes will have to breach the national record (NR) in order to qualify for the event and for valid reasons given the standard of the competition with nations such as Jamaica, Australia, Canada, among others.

National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi on May 22-25 will also serve as the final selection trials for the CWG, including those who have breached the qualification mark earlier in the season. However, AFI may exempt some of the athletes under special circumstances, such as participation in any major competition in the same window. 

As far as direct qualification is concerned, 100m sprinters such as Animesh Kujur (NR at 10.18), Manikanta Hoblidhar, Gurindervir Singh among others will have to reset the best Indian timing at 10.16 alike the Asian Games qualification mark. 

The standards are set high for 400m too with the likes of Vishal TK (NR at 45.12), Muhammed Anas, Rajesh Ramesh, Amoj Jacob and others will have to breach the unprecedented 45-second barrier (44.96).

Relay teams in both the running events will have a shot at qualification for the World Athletics Relays (on May 2-3 in Botswana), with National Open Relays on March 28 in Chandigarh to serve as the selection trials. A couple of foreign teams are expected to compete in the event too in order to register India's official timing for qualification purposes, confirmed AFI's vice-president Anju Bobby George. 

CWG entry standards are set high for the hurdles event too as the likes of Tejas Shirse (NR at 13.41) and Jyothi Yarraji (12.78), who is all set to make a comeback from injury, will have to reset their records at 13.39 and 12.67 in men's 110m and women's 100m hurdles, respectively.

In the women's 400m hurdles, Vithya Ramraj, who has matched PT Usha's 55.42 record, will have to improve her timing to 54.67 seconds at least.

In the field events, javelin throw may see multiple entries with the qualification mark set at 82.61 metre. The likes of Neeraj Chopra (NR at 90.23), Sachin Yadav (86.27) and Rohit Yadav (83.65) will fancy their chances of qualifying at the earliest.

Bar has been in all the jump events for women too, especially in the long jump. The likes of Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan and Nayana James will have to break Anju's long-standing NR of 6.84m.