The track and field events, the high-profile event of the XXI Commonwealth Games, gets going at the Carrara stadium here from Sunday.
Though a few superstars are missing from the action, the meet, is not out of depth. As many as 12 athletes who won medals in the last year’s World championships in London will be in action as also 17 who won the golds in Glasgow 2014.
As usual, through both the sections, it is the sprinters who are expected to hold attention. Among men, those waiting for their moments of glory include the 2011 World champion Yohan Blake (Jamaica) who should find some challenge from the Rio 2016 and 2017 world finalist Akani Simbine (South Africa) and England’s Adam Gemili.
Likewise, in the 200m, the main contenders for Blake will be another South African and Englishman, Clarence Munyai and Zharnel Hughes. Having turned in the eighth fastest time (43.72) in history over the 400m Botswana’s Isaac Makwala will be the one to beat in the one lapper.
Among women, the race of the Games could be well be the one featuring Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson and the Olympic 400m champion Shaune Miller (Bahamas) in the 200m. The favourite in 100m is Michelle Lee Ahye (Trinidad & Tobago) as she is likely to benefit from the absence of Nigerian Blessing Okagbare, who though here, will compete only in the 400m relay.
Caster Semenya, the World and Olympic 800m champion, is expected to go for a double adding 1500m to her individual programme.
In the men’s section, Nijel Amos (Botswana) will be out to make history by being the first athlete to successfully defend the 800m title while a high-class field comprising Kenyan pair Eliha Manango and Timothy Cheruiyot are expected to attack the 1500m.
Likewise, World champion Hellen Obiri (Kenya) has made it here solely to add the Commonwealth 5000m title — a medal missing from her otherwise rich cabinet — while Conseslus Kipruto will aim to lead Kenya to an eighth successive gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase.
Among throwers, all eyes will be on New Zelanders Tom Walsh and Dame Valerie Adams in the shot put. Walsh is now in joint sixth place on the all-time list with a heave of 22.67m, while Adams, will be on the lookout for a fourth straight Commonwealth title.
India is fielding a 21-member contingent but it hopes will revolve around Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw), Tejaswini Shankar (high jump), Arpinder Singh (triple jump) and Seema Punia (women’s discus throw), the last two having earned a bronze and a sliver each respectively four years ago when the highlight was the gold medal won by Vikas Gowda in men’s discus throw.
