Asian Games: AFI clears women's relay teams, Mayookha prays for last chance

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) today cleared both 4x400m and 4x100m women’s relay teams for the Incheon Asian Games, starting on September 19.

According to a press release issued by the AFI, the athletics contingent will leave on September 21, six days before the track and field events commences.

Earlier, last month, the AFI’s selection committee had selected a 56-member team for the Asiad, based on their performance in the qualification championships, but had asked for a fitness trial to be held for some of the disciplines at NS NIS Patiala on September 15.

Out of form triple jumpers Mayookha Johny of Kerala and Renjith Maheshwary have prayed to AFI for one more chance after they fell way short of qualifying mark.

The men’s 4x400m relay team also performed below par but AFI has decided to give all these faltering athletes another chance during trials at the NIS Patiala on September 18.

Shot putter Om Prakash Karhana was another athlete who was asked to take the trial yesterday but he incurred an injury just before his throw event.

The AFI is awaiting his medical report and will review his case once the injury level is known. The shot put event at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin from October 2, 2014.

The 56-member athletics team was selected on the basis of their performance in the qualification competition, the Federation Cup National Championships in Patiala from August 15-19, 2014.

However, in order to ensure that all the athletes were fit and in peak form for the Asiad, the AFI had asked for another trial to be held after a month for the athletes in these events.

PTI