By IANS,
Chennai : Some 1,200 athletes are expected to participate in the four-day 49th Inter-State athletics championship commencing here Wednesday even as the organisers issued a warning of sorts about medal winners to be tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials who will conduct random tests during the event.
Former Tamil Nadu DGP and senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India W.I. Devaram, at a media briefing here Tuesday night, admitted that the spate of doping scandals in Indian weightlifting had cast a shadow and that efforts are on to avoid a similar fiasco in athletics.
The Inter-State Meet will not be without significance in view of the 18th Asian Championship scheduled to be held in Guangzhou, China, next month (Nov 10-14), but strangely, the qualifying standards are still to be made known, according to Devaram.
“The Federation has not made known the qualifying marks for various events, but only the best athletes will be sent to China,” he said while adding that India might go unrepresented in some of the disciplines.
If the performance of some of the top athletes this season is any indication, then the discerning believe that they are still way below potential, but the Inter-State Meet would provide an ideal platform for them to work their way to top form with the Guangzhou event serving as an incentive.
The ensuing event will also provide yet another opportunity for Kerala’s 20-year old Tintu Luka, whom the legendary PT Usha has groomed over the past eight years.
Luka, who made her international debut at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, hit the headlines in last month’s Open Championship at Bhopal by winning the 800 metres (2:03.53) against some experienced runners and finishing second to Manjit Kaur (53.62) in the 400 flat while clocking 54.15.
In fact, Chennai holds fond memories for Luka. It was here in 2006 that she shot to National fame with a 55.15 in 400 flat. Last year, she took the silver in the 800 at the Asian Junior championship to establish herself as the most promising athlete in the country.
Thus, Luka will be closely watched here, especially Friday evening when the 800 final is scheduled.
Meanwhile, the name of India’s top long jumper, Anju Bobby George is missing from the list of athletes and the reason for her absence was not immediately clear. She also skipped the Open in Bhopal last month.
Among the participants are the 120 athletes who have arrived here after a training stint in London that followed camps in Patiala and Bangalore.
Although the officials opined that records would be set this time around, it remains to be seen whether such projection is mere pre-event hype or has some basis.