Once again a prestigious event comes to India. Twentieth Asian Athletics Championships (AAC) is going to be held in Pune from July 3 to 7. The excitement is only growing. But, the question that holds utmost importance is can India better the Kobe showIJ
After a sumptuous show in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the 2011 Asian Championships saw India netting 12 medals in the event held at Kobe, Japan. India had finished seventh with one gold, three silver and eight bronze in the bag. It had the most number of medals in 1985 and 1989 — the last time India had hosted AAC and performed brilliantly. A similar show would be expected in this edition as well.
Going by the recent performances in the Asian Grand Prix (2013) and the recently concluded Inter-state meet, the selectors have named 56 men and 54 women to represent the country at the meet. Countries like China and Japan are dominant forces in Asian circuit and they will make India athletes sweat it out for every medal.
Two athletes — triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary and steeple-chase Olympian Sudha Singh have qualified for the World Championships and the duo would be the best bets to win gold medal. Two Kazakh athlete — Yevgeniy Ektov and Roman Valiyev — will give Renjith tough competition.
Sudha recently created national record with a timing of 9.45.60 and her timing is the best in Asia right now. “I am in rhythm and doing well recently. I am confident of a good show in Pune,” Sudha said. 400m sensation MR Povamma will be a favourite and this girl has won confidence of many coaches. “Povamma has a good chance. She is really talented and after couple of good shows recently, her confidence must be high,” said S Mathew, one of the sprints coaches.
Mathew said that India should target around 17-18 medal haul and believes that relay teams will do well.Another medal prospect is OP Jaisha, who won gold in two categories — 1500m and 5000m — in the inter-State meet. She had also won bronze in 1500m in Kobe.
legendary PT Usha’s protégé Tintu luka, a bronze medallist in 800m at Kobe, would also be a medal prospect.In the field events, discus throwers Vikas Gowda and Krishna Poonia should earn a medal. Gowda’s biggest rival would be current Asian champion Ehsan Haddadi of Iran. Gowda had finished eighth at london games while the Iranian claimed a silver. Haddadi is a veteran and hurls it to more than two meter of distance than the Indian’s best. In women’s discus, China’s Olympic silver medal winner li Yanfeng will be the favourite and another girl from China, Ma Xuejun, and Poonia will be her biggest challengers. Other Indians in the fray are Seema Antil and Navjot Kaur Dhillon.
Shot Putter Om Prakash Singh, a bronze medalist in 2011 and Olympian, has lost the crown of national champion to his Haryana state-mate Inderjeet Singh. He is not in top form and it can be gauged from the fact that his effort of 18.30m in this year’s national meet was two meter short of his best. The poor show meant that Om Prakash had to content himself with a bronze.
Mayookha Johny, the lone gold medal winner at Kobe will compete in both long jump and triple jump. Mayookha had also won bronze in triple jump. The Keralite is concentrating more on long jump and would be one of India’s main medal hopes.
Olympian Sahana Kumari will carry hosts’ hopes in high jump for women while in the men’s decathlon event, 2011 bronze medalist Bhartinder Singh will eye a repeat.As a host, India can field three candidates in all the events, providing opportunities for many young and upcoming athletes to showcase their talent at a bigger stage.
But, given the challenge it faces from other countries and considering the inconsistency it has shown in last couple of years, doubts continue to linger.However, it will do a world of good to Indian athletics if they can rise from the doping shame and london’s no-medal show.