JOIN USIncheon Asian Games’ 800M silver medallist Tintu Luka will not feature in this edition of the continental multi-sporting event as she has pulled out of the confirmatory trials called by the Athletics Federation of India.
Tintu was scheduled to appear for a confirmatory trial, along with three other athletes, in Thiruvananthapuram on August 15 if she was to be considered for the Asian Games.
Her mentor and sprint ace P T Usha has written to the AFI saying that her ward will not be able to take part in the confirmatory trial as she has not recovered from her heel injury.
National record holder Tintu has been suffering from a heel injury and she did not take part in the June 26-29 National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Guwahati, which served as the qualifying event for the Jakarta Games.
She also did not take part in the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“Tintu can run with a normal running shoe but she is not being able to run wearing spikes. So, she has decided not to take part in the confirmatory trials,” a source close to Usha said.
Indian men lose
The Indian men’s handball team, whose participation at the Asian Games got mired into controversy before getting the clearance, began its campaign at the quadrennial event with a 28-38 defeat against Chinese Taipei.