@trojan ; It looks close to impossible now to include Shooting in Birmingham Games. As it is classified as an Optional Sport and England is not any strong force in this discipline, they seem to be reluctant. Next Commonwealth Games were supposed to be held in Durban but their political crisis - Jacob Zuma, Gupta Family and resulting financial turmoil has given the opportunity to Birmingham as makeshift venue. They have their own budget while bidding. As they want to showcase Birmingham is UK Athletics capital, main stadium for opening closing as well as Athletics will be used for that purpose in future. They got NEC and university sports facilities for other events. If it was Durban or Birmingham would have got more time, shooting would have been there. There is little political or financial backing for Shooting as a sport in England.
Tennis has been a strong discipline for India at the Asian Games. Sania Mirza has participated since 2002 Asian Games. In last 4 Asian games, she has won 8 medals including 2 Gold Medals in different disciplines Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. With her fitness in doubt due to knee injury since last October, I dont see any other Woman Tennis player in India to win medals in Asian Games. Her absence will be a blow to Indian Medal hopes.
Athletics Federation of India leaves athletes in the dark ahead of Asian Games
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had made it mandatory for all athletes to compete in the national inter-state senior athletics championships to achieve the August 18-September 2 Asian Games qualifying mark. The dates of the national championships is not out officially yet
With just nine weeks to the June 30 deadline of naming athletics squad for Asian Games, India’s top athletes are still unaware of the date of selection trials.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had made it mandatory for all athletes to compete in the national inter-state senior athletics championships to achieve the Asian Games qualifying mark. The competition, however, was scheduled for July 15-18 in Kolkata.
Though it has been advanced to June 23-26, the change hasn’t been announced officially, leaving the players in the dark. “That’s the dates on which the ground has been booked. We hope it will not change,” said Kamal Mitra, secretary general of the West Bengal Athletics Association.
The athletes are perplexed. “At this moment, we are confused because there is no official announcement. Shifting the important competition by two weeks will mean changing our training plans,” said an athlete who had participated in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (CWG).
AFI had messed up ahead of the CWG also through scheduling of the final qualification competition which ended on March 8, a day after the CWG deadline expired. Sidharth Yadav (high jump), G Vijayakumari (400m relay) and M Sreeshankar (long jump) had to miss out despite achieving the qualification standards.
Vijayakumari was a member of the 4x400m relay team and her absence hurt India’s chances. The Indian relay team finished seventh in the eight-team final.
Though the Indian Olympic Association of India (IOA) had appealed to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), its request was turned down.
For the Asian Games, the AFI has appealed to the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to extend the deadline till July 18. However, it is yet to get any response. “We are trying to sort out the issue,” said AFI president Adille Sumariwalla.
@Bad Ramkumar Ramnathan has the potential to win medal in Singles event. I am not sure about Yuki, Saketh or anyone else. In Doubles, who will be there? Rohan and Leander ?? Last time Saketh Sanam got Silver. It is Mixed Doubles and Women Doubles medal which is a big loss with Sania absence. Good that Davis Cup tie is in mid-september so that Indian players will be free to play in Asian Games.
Great Article. Some new names are coming up and they will get a chance this time at Asian Games. Mohammed Etash Khan, Kavinder Bisht, Sanjeet, Sachin. Commonwealth Games was just a trailer of new generation of Indian Boxing.
Mohammed Etash Khan from Manipur
Sanjeet defeated Naman Tanwar in February. We all know what Naman is capable of.
Sachin Singh is from same Bhiwani Boxing club as Naman.
Comments
They have their own budget while bidding. As they want to showcase Birmingham is UK Athletics capital, main stadium for opening closing as well as Athletics will be used for that purpose in future. They got NEC and university sports facilities for other events.
If it was Durban or Birmingham would have got more time, shooting would have been there. There is little political or financial backing for Shooting as a sport in England.
Tennis has been a strong discipline for India at the Asian Games. Sania Mirza has participated since 2002 Asian Games. In last 4 Asian games, she has won 8 medals including 2 Gold Medals in different disciplines Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
With her fitness in doubt due to knee injury since last October, I dont see any other Woman Tennis player in India to win medals in Asian Games. Her absence will be a blow to Indian Medal hopes.
Men's Singles will be dependent on the field of players at the Asian Games.
Athletics Federation of India leaves athletes in the dark ahead of Asian Games
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had made it mandatory for all athletes to compete in the national inter-state senior athletics championships to achieve the August 18-September 2 Asian Games qualifying mark. The dates of the national championships is not out officially yet
With just nine weeks to the June 30 deadline of naming athletics squad for Asian Games, India’s top athletes are still unaware of the date of selection trials.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had made it mandatory for all athletes to compete in the national inter-state senior athletics championships to achieve the Asian Games qualifying mark. The competition, however, was scheduled for July 15-18 in Kolkata.
Though it has been advanced to June 23-26, the change hasn’t been announced officially, leaving the players in the dark. “That’s the dates on which the ground has been booked. We hope it will not change,” said Kamal Mitra, secretary general of the West Bengal Athletics Association.
The athletes are perplexed. “At this moment, we are confused because there is no official announcement. Shifting the important competition by two weeks will mean changing our training plans,” said an athlete who had participated in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (CWG).
AFI had messed up ahead of the CWG also through scheduling of the final qualification competition which ended on March 8, a day after the CWG deadline expired. Sidharth Yadav (high jump), G Vijayakumari (400m relay) and M Sreeshankar (long jump) had to miss out despite achieving the qualification standards.
Vijayakumari was a member of the 4x400m relay team and her absence hurt India’s chances. The Indian relay team finished seventh in the eight-team final.
Though the Indian Olympic Association of India (IOA) had appealed to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), its request was turned down.
For the Asian Games, the AFI has appealed to the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to extend the deadline till July 18. However, it is yet to get any response. “We are trying to sort out the issue,” said AFI president Adille Sumariwalla.
It is Mixed Doubles and Women Doubles medal which is a big loss with Sania absence. Good that Davis Cup tie is in mid-september so that Indian players will be free to play in Asian Games.
Best Wishes to Sania Mirza. This should put an end to all speculations about her participation.
Great Article. Some new names are coming up and they will get a chance this time at Asian Games.
Mohammed Etash Khan, Kavinder Bisht, Sanjeet, Sachin. Commonwealth Games was just a trailer of new generation of Indian Boxing.
Mohammed Etash Khan from Manipur
Sanjeet defeated Naman Tanwar in February. We all know what Naman is capable of.
Sachin Singh is from same Bhiwani Boxing club as Naman.