NEW DELHI: Olympic and World champion Neeraj Chopra will not be part of India’s 59-member squad for the Asian Athletics Championships, set to be held in Gumi, South Korea from May 27 to 31, as his focus remains firmly on global competitions this season.
The javelin star's absence was on expected lines, with his season centered around the Diamond League Meetings, the World Championships in September, and the Neeraj Chopra Classic — a domestic meet he is hosting in Bengaluru on May 24. Chopra has not competed in the continental event since winning gold at the 2017 edition in Bhubaneswar, opting instead to prioritise global meets in recent years.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
While most top performers from the recently concluded Federation Cup in Kochi have earned their spots, some notable omissions include national record-holding shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who failed to defend his Federation Cup title, and pole vaulter Dev Kumar Meena, who missed the qualifying mark despite setting a new national record.
Who's that IPL player?
The squad includes key names like Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase), and Gulveer Singh (5000m and 10000m), who were given exemptions from the Federation Cup due to overseas training and competitions.
Sprinter Animesh Kujur, who set a new 200m national record, and triple jumper Praveen Chitravel, who equaled his own national record, also feature in the squad. Annu Rani, the national record holder in women’s javelin, has been included based on her season-best effort in March.
India had finished third in the 2023 edition in Bangkok with 27 medals, including 6 gold.
Video
India's squad for Asian Athletics Championships
Men:
Animesh Kujur (200m), Anu Kumar and Krishan Kumar (800m), Yoonus Shah (1500m), Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Gulveer Singh and Abhishek Pal (5000m), Gulveer Singh and Sawan Barwal (10,000m), Praveen Chithravel and Abudlla Aboobacker (triple jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Sachin Yadav and Yasvir Singh (javelin throw), Samardeep Singh (shot put), Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon), Servin Sebastian and Amit (20km race walk).
4x100m relay: Pranav Pramod Gurav, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidar, Amlan Borgohain, Tamilarasu S, Ragul Kumar G, Gurvindervir Singh.
4x400m relay: Vishal TK, Jay Kumar, Manu TS, Rince Joseph, Tushar Manna, Santhosh Kumar, Dharamveer Choudhary, Mohit Kumar.
Women:
Nithya Gandhe (200m), Rupal Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj (400m), Twinkle Chaudhary and Pooja (800m), Lili Das and Pooja (1500m), Parul Chaudhary and Ankita (3000m steeplechase), Sanjivani Jadav and Parul Chaudhary (5000m), Sanjivani Jadhav and Seema (10,000m), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), R Vithya Ramraj and Anu R (400m), Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan (long jump), Pooja (high jump), Seema (discus throw), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Agsara Nandini (heptathlon).
4x100m relay: Nithya Gandhe, Abinaya Rajarajan, Sneha SS, Srabani Nanda, Daneshwari AT, V Sudheeksha.
4x400m relay: Rupal Chaudhary, Sneha K, Subha Venkatesan, Jisna Mathew, Kunja Rajitha, Sarndramol Sabu.
The javelin star's absence was on expected lines, with his season centered around the Diamond League Meetings, the World Championships in September, and the Neeraj Chopra Classic — a domestic meet he is hosting in Bengaluru on May 24. Chopra has not competed in the continental event since winning gold at the 2017 edition in Bhubaneswar, opting instead to prioritise global meets in recent years.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
While most top performers from the recently concluded Federation Cup in Kochi have earned their spots, some notable omissions include national record-holding shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who failed to defend his Federation Cup title, and pole vaulter Dev Kumar Meena, who missed the qualifying mark despite setting a new national record.
Who's that IPL player?
The squad includes key names like Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase), and Gulveer Singh (5000m and 10000m), who were given exemptions from the Federation Cup due to overseas training and competitions.
Sprinter Animesh Kujur, who set a new 200m national record, and triple jumper Praveen Chitravel, who equaled his own national record, also feature in the squad. Annu Rani, the national record holder in women’s javelin, has been included based on her season-best effort in March.
India had finished third in the 2023 edition in Bangkok with 27 medals, including 6 gold.
Video
India's squad for Asian Athletics Championships
Men:
Animesh Kujur (200m), Anu Kumar and Krishan Kumar (800m), Yoonus Shah (1500m), Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Gulveer Singh and Abhishek Pal (5000m), Gulveer Singh and Sawan Barwal (10,000m), Praveen Chithravel and Abudlla Aboobacker (triple jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump), Sachin Yadav and Yasvir Singh (javelin throw), Samardeep Singh (shot put), Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon), Servin Sebastian and Amit (20km race walk).
4x100m relay: Pranav Pramod Gurav, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidar, Amlan Borgohain, Tamilarasu S, Ragul Kumar G, Gurvindervir Singh.
4x400m relay: Vishal TK, Jay Kumar, Manu TS, Rince Joseph, Tushar Manna, Santhosh Kumar, Dharamveer Choudhary, Mohit Kumar.
Women:
Nithya Gandhe (200m), Rupal Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj (400m), Twinkle Chaudhary and Pooja (800m), Lili Das and Pooja (1500m), Parul Chaudhary and Ankita (3000m steeplechase), Sanjivani Jadav and Parul Chaudhary (5000m), Sanjivani Jadhav and Seema (10,000m), Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), R Vithya Ramraj and Anu R (400m), Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan (long jump), Pooja (high jump), Seema (discus throw), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Agsara Nandini (heptathlon).
4x100m relay: Nithya Gandhe, Abinaya Rajarajan, Sneha SS, Srabani Nanda, Daneshwari AT, V Sudheeksha.
4x400m relay: Rupal Chaudhary, Sneha K, Subha Venkatesan, Jisna Mathew, Kunja Rajitha, Sarndramol Sabu.
You may also like
Eni Aluko issues apology to Ian Wright amid punditry storm - 'It was wrong'
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu meets PM Modi, invites him to Amaravati
'Mahagathbandhan' takes out candle-light march in Patna to condemn Pahalgam attack
Real Madrid issue furious referee statement and 'boycott' Copa del Rey final duties
IPL 2025: PBKS Spin Coach Joshi Acknowledges Shreyas Iyer's Improvement Against Pace
