JAMMU: A total of 28 athletes have qualified in the GAIL Indian Speedstar for north and central India the trials for which were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
Earlier, a total of 317 young athletes, selected at the district trials from New Delhi (70), Jammu (6), Uttarakhand (15), Madhya Pradesh (46) and Uttar Pradesh (180), participated in the event along with nine other shortlisted wild card entrants otherwise selected a day prior to the state trials.
The event was part of the initiative taken by National Yuva Cooperative Society (NYCS) as part of nationwide campaign to find out athletes for 2020/2024 Olympics.
Among the 28 qualifiers from today’s trials were eight girls and 20 boys. In under-14 category, Nihal S (New Delhi), Nisar Ahmed (New Delhi) and Milan Bhosle (Indore) qualified in 100 meters category. In 200 meters category Anshul (New Delhi), Nikhil Som (Meerut), Mohd. Kohinoor Ali (New Delhi), Nihal S (New Delhi), Dishan Yadav (Guna) and Shubham Sharma (Allahabad) qualified in under-14 boys’ category. In the same age category in girls Cynthia Francis and Payal from New Delhi qualified for both 100m and 200m category.
Meanwhile, in 100 metres under-17 boys’ category, Nuzrat (New Delhi), Badal Shokeen (New Delhi), Rishab Riskeshwar (New Delhi), Shivang Mishra (Allahabad), Shubam (Meerut) and Harsh Ahlawat (Meerut) qualified and in girls in the same category Donalda Francis, Shabnam and Radhima Gulati qualified from New Delhi. In 200 metres under -17 category, only one girl Mona from New Delhi qualified. In boys category, Aakash (Meerut), Akshay Nain (New Delhi), Shivang Mishra (Allahabad), Badal Shokeen (New Delhi), Rishab Riskeshwar (New Delhi) and Shadad Chaudhary (Meerut) qualified. In 800 metres under-17 girls’ category, Ankita Chahal (New Delhi) and Sadana Nishad (Gorakhpur) qualified and in boys Nitin (New Delhi), Saddam Khan (Gorakhpur), Anshul (Meerut) and Akshay Nain (New Delhi) qualified.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Manager Corporate Communications, GAIL (India) Limited, Jyoti Kumar said, “We are very proud to conduct the state trials for north India successfully. We have selected some of the best talents not only from north and central India but also from Rajasthan and Odisha state trials held earlier this year. The talent and enthusiasm of these athletes has immensely impressed everyone present today at the event. I am sure we will scout the best talents from the remaining state trials in Kerala, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat.”
The shortlisted athletes from these state trials will participate in the national camp and selection which is scheduled to be held in May 2016 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The top nine athletes who meet the benchmark set by the National Selection Committee headed by the legendary PT Usha with the other members being Olympians, Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal and Asian and Commonwealth Games medalist, Kavita Raut, will be provided specialised training so as to prepare them for the 2020/2024 Olympics.