Seema’s absence gives Navjeet edge

PATIALA: Punjab’s upcoming discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon will finally get a chance to emerge from the shadows of the likes of 2014 Asian Games gold medallist Seema Punia when the four-day Federation Cup kicks off here on Friday.

Seema, who is reportedly training in Russia, has been exempted by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) from competing in the season opener and 24-year-old Navjeet — winner of bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year — has a great chance of emerging on the national stage and stake claim for inclusion in top international tournaments.

On the eve of the event, Navjeet said she would be looking at her role model, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, to give a good performance here, adding, “Neeraj has shown that athletes in India can excel without taking performance-enhancing drugs.”

“If athletes adhere to a proper programme, there is no need to take shortcuts to fame,” said Navjeet, who couldn’t make the cut for the Asian Games in Jakarta. The Punjab athlete said she will be aiming to cross the 60-metre mark at the Federation Cup, adding that her personal best was 59.18m recorded last year.

Seema’s absence though is a huge dampener and AFI secretary-general CK Valson said, she had been given “exemption”. The AFI official, however, had no answer when asked where Seema was training.