A long list of athletes, but only a few medal hopes
A 92-member team has been selected to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games. Announcing the team on Tuesday the Athletics Federation of India officiating secretary general said, India had good chances of winning medals in the field events.
A 92-member team has been selected to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games. Announcing the team on Tuesday the Athletics Federation of India officiating secretary general said, India had good chances of winning medals in the field events.
“Going by the performances of the athletes in the trails, we should be winning medals in women's discus throw, women's long jump and men's shot put,” said Ravinder Chaudhury, AFI officiating secretary general. “The 4x400m women's relay team too has a good chance.”
Those selected in the women discus team are Krishna Poonia, Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil. In women's long jump Mayookha Johney has been performing well, crossing the 6.5m mark with ease in the last couple of meets. If the discus throwers manage to clear 61 metres, they will have a chance to step on to the podium.
The team for one of the events, which is the 20 kilometer walk, will be announced later as the selectors want to look at the performance of the athletes which will be participating in an event which is going to be held in Ukraine before the Games.
The only event that's going unrepresented is the women's pole vault. "Being the hosts we have the luxury of fielding athletes in all disciplines," said Chaudhury.
According to the seven member selection committee which was chaired by Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, those selected made it to the team primarily on the basis of their performance in the last state athletics meet.
The selectors informed that in some of the events, three athletes will compete but in others only token participation will be considered their prospects in the Commonwealth Games.