The athletes for the Asian Games have been selected and their names sent to the organisers.
But, for some strange reason, the Athletics Federation of India was reluctant to officially announce its full team for next month’s Asian Games in Jakarta.
“The entries have been sent to the Indian Olympic Association but we cannot announce the team now because we will have fitness trials for seven to eight athletes on August 15,” AFI secretary C.K. Valson told The Hindu on Sunday.
Valson said the final team, which currently has about 55 athletes selected in New Delhi on Saturday evening, will be announced after the August 15 trials.
For a change, the AFI appears to have taken a tough stand against non-campers, at least for its relay team.
“The women’s relay team has six members and only those who are in the National camp are part of the squad,” said Valson.
“Jisna Mathew and M.R. Poovamma are all there. And Nirmala Sheoran will be running only the individual 400m.”
Valson, however, hinted that Nirmala could run the relay if she joins the National camp at least now.
Meanwhile, former Asian 800m champion and 2014 Asiad silver medallist Tintu Luka, who skipped the Guwahati meet with a heel injury, has been included in the team and will attend the August 15 fitness trials.
Long jumper Nayana James, the 2017 Asians bronze medallist who suffered an injury at Guwahati, also finds a place in the squad subject to clearing the fitness trials.