Veteran discus thrower Seema Punia and star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra have been exempted from participating in the upcoming Inter-State Athletics Championship in Guwahati as they will be considered for Asian Games bound India squad subject to fitness.
The Inter-State Championship, which will serve as trials for Asian Games in Indonesia, will be held from June 26 to 29. The Indian squad for Asian Games will be announced on June 30. Both Seema and Neeraj are automatic choices in their respective events.
The 35-year-old Seema is the reigning Asian Games champion and recently won a silver at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast where Neeraj won gold medal with season's best score.
"We have exempted Seema as well as Neeraj from taking part in the National Inter-State Championships considering their past record and recent form. They will be considered for the Asian Games," AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI today.
However both the athletes will have to appear for a fitness trial mid-August before the team departs for Jakarta.
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