The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has included two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra in the 32-member Indian team for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, though his selection remains subject to achieving the qualifying standard.
Neeraj is yet to compete this season as he has been undergoing rehabilitation following a back injury.
According to AFI selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla, the star javelin thrower has been given time to prove his fitness in the coming days.
“Neeraj had requested us to give him some time to qualify for the Games. He has recovered from his injury and is supposed to take part in at least two competitions in the coming days,” Sumariwalla told reporters on Sunday.
Asked whether Chopra had disclosed the events in which he would compete, Sumariwalla said the athlete was yet to finalise them.
“He is training fit and he will let us know about the competitions where he would be participating after deciding with his team,” he said.
However, Sumariwalla clarified that Chopra’s inclusion remains subject to him achieving the AFI qualifying mark of 82.61m.
Like Chopra, triple jumper Selva Prabhu has also been selected for the Glasgow meet, subject to his performance at the Inter-State Championships scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar from June 24.
“He asked our permission to take part in the Inter-State meet. He has done well at the NCAA meet but he must come close to the CWG qualification mark of 16.89m in Bhubaneswar,” the AFI selection committee chief said.
The AFI has selected 10 women and 22 men athletes for the Commonwealth Games, which is the maximum quota allotted to India in athletics.
Besides Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh have also been selected in the javelin throw after achieving the qualification mark of 82.61m at the Ludhiana leg of the Indian Athletics Series on Saturday.
In sprint events, national record holder Gurindervir Singh is India’s sole representative in the 100m, while Animesh Kujur will compete in the 200m.
Indian team
Men: Gurindervir Singh (100m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Gulveer Singh (5,000m/10,000m), Tejas Ashok Shirse (110m hurdles), Yashas P and Santhosh K (400m hurdles), Sarvesh Anil Kushare and Aadarsh Ram J (high jump), Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar (pole vault), Sreeshankar M and Lokesh Sathyanathan (long jump), Selva Prabhu and Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Samardeep Singh Gill and Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh (javelin throw), Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon and high jump), Vishal TK and Rajesh Ramesh (400m and mixed 4x400m relay).
Women: Parul Chaudhary (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m), Pooja (high jump), Manpreet Kaur (shot put), Seema and Nidhi Rani (discus throw), Ravina and Priyanka (10,000m race walk), Ansa Babu (400m and mixed 4x400m relay), Rashdeep Kaur (400m and mixed 4x400m relay), Neeru Pathak (400m and 4x400m relay).
India name CWG athletics squad; Neeraj Chopra included subject to qualifying mark
