The Hindu : National Circuit: Bangalore leg, an ideal test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Athletics

National Circuit: Bangalore leg, an ideal test

By Avinash Nair

BANGALORE July 16. With the World championship, the Asian championship and the inaugural Afro-Asian Games all listed for the season ahead the Indian athletes have their job cut out. And the Bangalore leg of the National Circuit meet, scheduled for Thursday, will be an ideal test.

As in the first meet at Nagercoil on Thursday last, the event is not expected to see top quality performances though it should be said that Bangalore's Sree Kanteerava stadium has been a happy hunting ground for most athletes.

Sixteen events have been listed with the 10-km walk for both men and women being just trials.

High jumper Bobby Aloysius, who has had some creditable performances of late, will be the cynosure of all along with the men's National record holder in 100m and 200m, Anil Kumar of Services.

The MEG sprinter, who has been closing in on the 10.2 seconds mark in the 100m, has had his best runs on these very tracks. Sandeep Sarkaria and Piyush Kumar (both from Delhi), and teammate Sanjay Ghosh will be pose the greatest challenge for Anil, with Bangalore's Clifford Joshua being the dark horse.

Bobby on her part will be attempting to scale the 1.92 metre mark (qualifying mark) to make the team for the World championship. Sahana Kumari, training under coach Nishad Kumar at the SAI Centre here, should push Bobby for the mark.

"I'm a lot fitter and conditions permitting will go for the qualifying mark in the three forthcoming events - at Bnagalore, Chennai and the Hyderabad Federation Cup later this month," said Bobby.

The others to watch out for will be discus thrower Neelam J. Singh and one lapper S. Geeta of Andhra Pradesh, both of whom are capable of attaining greater glory.

The men's the 400m field looks weakened with the last minute pull out by Bhupinder Singh. Ramachandran and Manoj Lal are conspicuous by their absence. Satbir Singh (Services) will have to contend with the likes of P.S. Primesh (Kerala) and P. Shankar of Andhra.

With the rains belting down the last couple of days, the tracks have taken a soaking but its the long jump run up that has been a cause for worry.

On the eve of the event the trainees preferred to stay back at SAI and not have a feel of the tracks. Local girl Bindu Rani, participating in the 400m sounded cautious, "the focus is on the inter-State at Jamshedpur in early September. A good performance there will book us a berth for the Asian championship and the Afro Asian Games.''

The cash awards for the top three has also been marginally increased with Rs. 10,000, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 3,000 on offer for the top three.

With events commencing from 3 p.m. the organisers have planned to hold a few events under floodlights with the intention of attracting school children. The 10-km walk for men and women, however, will be held earlier at 1.30 p.m.

The Bangalore leg originally scheduled as the third of the four meets is now the second after Nagercoil. The Thiruvananthapuram leg had to be cancelled due to poor track conditions. Chennai will host the next event on July 19.

The events: Men: 100m, 400m, 3000m, 110 m hurdles, shot put, javelin throw, hammer throw, high jump, triple jump.

Women: 200m, 400m, 1500m, long jump, high jump and discus throw.

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