It’s literally a race against time for the country’s elite track and field athletes who are still hoping to make the cut for the Paris Olympics. The Interstate Athletics Meet, which kicks off on Wednesday in Panchkula, Haryana, will be the last major competition for athletes to attempt to make the cut for the mega event before the qualification cycle closes at the end of this month.
As things stand, 18 athletes have achieved the direct qualification marks from various events including the relay and race walk and 16 will finally board the flight to Paris. The tally is expected to reach at least 31 considering the current ranking placement.This Interstate meet, being a B-level tournament, gives an opportunity for those on the fence to accumulate some valuable ranking points before this month’s deadline.
Among those who are expected to go full throttle at Panchkula are the 4x400m mixed relay team who are chasing 3:11.88s to replace Kenya at the 16th spot and qualify for the Games. To meet the World Athletics norms for ranking points the Athletics Federation of India has invited two international teams – Maldives and Sri Lanka – to participate in the relays. But the move is unlikely to boost the Indian team’s chances of qualifying since both the international teams are slower compared to India.
“You saw what happened at the Asian Championships, no? We were faster than these teams and while I was running I just took a huge lead and had no clue where the rest were. That is not an ideal scenario when you are chasing a qualification mark. You need teams that push you,” said Amoj Jaacob, who will have to pull out an extraordinary run if the mixed team stands a chance to qualify.
But we can’t say that it is impossible,” said Jacob, who has a personal best of 45.68s. The chances of the mixed relay team qualifying for Paris seem bleak, Jacob feels that PBs might help the relay team make it. “We are still in it. If I and Anas bhai run a sub-45s race and the rest pull out their personal bests we might still make it,” said the spirited runner.
AFI president Adille Sumariwalla felt that the mixed relay team had a chance and said, “Personally, I feel that the mixed 4x400m relay will be the next big thing after the men’s 4x400m relay, though many people may not agree with this.”
High jumpers Sarvesh Kushare (29) and Tejaswin Shankar (38), long jumper Jeswin Aldrin (32) – who has had a lukewarm season, triple jumpers Abdulla Aboobacker (21) and Praveen Chitravel (24), shot putters Abha Khatua (25) and Tajinderpal Singh Toor (25), javelin throwers Annu Rani (19) and Manu DP (15), and Jyothi Yarraji (31) are those in reckoning for Paris.
The AFI has maintained that all athletes will have to compete in the Interstate Meet for qualification and selection for Pairs barring reigning Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra and a few race walkers who have already achieved qualification for Paris.
Among those to watch out at the event is long-distance runner Gulveer Singh, who is currently ranked 57. Guvleer’s coach Bahadur Singh reckons his ward needs to run below 13 minutes 27 seconds to finish within the 42 ranking bracket and qualify for the Olympics. The UP athlete, who has a personal best of 13:18.92s (national record), broke the 10,000m national mark in the season opener. Earlier this month, he took Avinash Sable’s spot in the national record books in 5000m.
“If he runs well he can qualify. But yes he is in good form and we are very confident of him qualifying for Paris in the 5000m,” said coach Bahadur.