Among the top athletes Dutee Chand is competing after the first Post-COVID
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Image Credit: Asian Age
There are around eighty-five athletes, including Dutee Chand- the 100 m national record holder is being seen in action. She was seen practicing during the Grand Prix I meet this Thursday. It is the first track as well as field senior competition of this season. Here is also a news that the top star players like Hima Das, are not ready to take part in the competition of the first multi-event athletics. This decision taken by them is due to the wiping out of the entire calendar last year because of COVID-19 pandemic. Neeraj Chopra, who is a star javelin thrower will also be absent from the event as it is not included in the Indian Grand Prix-I. This was to be held at the NIS complex.
The Grand meet is intended to offer certain indication of how eager the Indian athletes are to bid for the renowned Olympic. The meet of the three Grand Prix meets at the same venue. The other two events are decided to be held on 25th February and 5th March. There are basically warm-up seasons for the Federation Cup. This is slated from 15th March 2021.
Some of the top athletes competing includes Amiya Kumar Mallick for 100m, Muhammad Anas Yahiya for 100m, Noah Nirmal Tom for 200m, Arokia Rajiv for 200m, Dharun Ayyasamy for 400m hurdles, Amoj Jacob for 800m and Yugant Shekhar Singh for long jump.
The women’s event is also expected to have twenty-seven athletes in action. Dutee Chand for 100m is expected to be in the spotlight. Along with Dutee Chand there is also Subha Venkatesan for 200m and Anjali Devi for 200m, Chanda for 800m along with MR Poovamma and VK salini for 400m.
According to the president of AFI, Adille Sumariwalla, they are pleased that field and track competition for the seniors is getting resumes after a very long time. He also added that the entire management believes that the audience will see the same energy as well as enthusiasm in the senior ranks also.
According to the AFI, it is mandatory for the coaches, athletes and all other support personnel to produce their RT-PCR Covid-19 negative reports so that they can take part in the Grand Prix meets.
According to a circular of the AFI, the RT PCR test report for COVID-19 is mandatory and it needs to be submitted at the entry level prior to receiving the chest number along with the given entry. The test must be done 72 hours before the commencement of the program. The AFI also decided that if someone is not carrying all the valid certificates then the participant along with the staff will not be given the permission for entry.
In the meet, a total of fifteen events will take place along with two races in the 100m and 200m sprints of the men. This is the second event of senior level this season after the event of the National Race Walk Championship in Ranchi which was held last week.
