Federation Cup, an Asian Championships qualifier, set to begin with spotlight on quartermilers, javelin throwers

This has been a season of surprises. Quarter-miler Aishwarya Mishra and javelin thrower Sachin Yadav produced some stunning personal bests at the Dehradun National Games, their season-opener, in early February.

And a few weeks ago, Gurindervir Singh broke the men’s 100m national record while triple jumpers Abdulla Aboobacker and Praveen Chithravel impressively went past 17m.

The 28th National Federation Athletics Championships (Federation Cup) begins at the Maharaja’s Stadium here on Monday, and with the meet being the qualification event for next month’s Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, one can expect many more surprises.

Aishwarya, however, has chosen to stay away. Kiran Pahal, last year’s fastest female quarter-miler, and prominent men’s 400m runner, Muhammed Ajmal, are not here either.

Still, with talk that there could be major changes in relay teams, the spotlight could be on the quarter-milers and former World junior bronze medallist Rupal Chaudhary, who ran in the World and Asian Relays last year, will be watched closely.

“The conditions look good, but I wish we had the javelin throw around this time, something like 5.30 p.m., and not at the scheduled 4 p.m., which will be hot,” said Asian Games champion javelin thrower Annu Rani, the National Record holder. “It’s nice and cool now.”

While Annu is expected to take the women’s gold comfortably, the men’s javelin throw could see an intense battle between National Games champion Sachin Yadav, Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Kumar Jena and Rohit Yadav

The four-day meet has attracted 470 athletes, including 167 women.