Inter-state meet to be a mandatory event

which would also feature D.P. Manu and Shivpal Singh.

Apart from the two Olympic quali˜ed throwers, Asiad gold medallist shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, triple jumpers Praveen Chitravel, Abdulla Aboobacker, and the 4x400m relay team members, including Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal, Dandi Jyothika Sri, and Subha Venkatesan, will be some of the well known athletes competing here.

Jacob, who ran the anchor leg in the Olympic quali˜er in Bahamas, said he was yet to overcome jet lag but chose to participate in the event.

However, several top names, including steeplechaser Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, quartermilers National record holder Muhammad Anas, Arokia Rajeev, Rajesh Ramesh and Noah Nirmal Tom, long jumper Ancy Sojan, 800m Asian Games medallist Harmilan Bains, will miss the event due to various reasons.

In view of some big names failing dope tests this year ahead of the Olympics, the National Anti-Doping Agency is expected to be active during the event.

The AFI has said the National inter-state championships at Panchkula from June 27 to 30 will be a mandatory event for all the athletes barring some exceptions, including Neeraj Chopra who will compete in Europe closer to the Paris Olympics. The National Inter-state meet will be the last domestic competition for the athletes to qualify for the Olympics.

“The last date to qualify for the Olympics is June 30. Suppose we have four javelin throwers who have quali˜ed, but we can only send three. It is mandatory to participate in Panchkula to prove themselves,” chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair said on Saturday.

But AFI may consider some exceptions for world standard athletes like Neeraj, said Nair.

BISWARANJAN ROUT All in readiness: India chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair, centre, said he was looking forward to javelin competition.