New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) threatened Friday action against all those who do not perform well at the Tokyo Olympics. The AFI decided to issue the warning after deciding not to pull out long jumper M Sreeshankar and 20km race walker KT Irfan from the Games. The AFI said it was the giving the two a chance to participate in the Tokyo Olympics despite a dip in their form. However, they will have to improve on their performances.
AFI’s selection committee, in an emergency meeting, arrived at a ‘unanimous decision’ to not pull the two athletes out of the 26-member squad.
There was strong opinion from some members that both should be withdrawn after they under-performed in the trials in Bangalore. The committee noted that the federation had called the trials to assess fitness and not form. AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said the coaches of both athletes had been spoken to about their lacklustre form in the trials.
“The coaches have promised that their respective athletes would give their best in Tokyo. Sreeshankar’s father and coach have assured of good performance from his athlete. If athletes do not perform well in the Olympics, we will take action against them,” Sumariwalla said. He asserted that the message is meant for all those who are on the flight to Tokyo.
During a fitness trial held Wednesday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bangalore, Sreeshankar’s best jump was 7.48m. It was a far cry from the 8.26m he had come up during the Federation Cup in March to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Sreeshankar had pulled out of the National Inter-State Championships (June 25-29) just before his event after warming up on the field at the NIS Patiala.
Sreeshankar’s father S Murali, who is accompanying him to Tokyo as coach, said his he will do well in the Olympics. “He (Sreeshankar) will do well. There is not much of an issue,” Murali simply said, when asked about Sreeshankar’s dip in form.
Irfan underwent a fitness trial July 9, was the first track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics way back in March 2019. His last competition was during the National Race Walking Championships in March in Ranchi, where he did not finish the race. He had contracted Covid-19 in May and has recovered since then.
“The selectors were of the view that athletes, especially those who meet qualification standards early, need to compete in the final selection trial and show their performance,” Sumariwalla said.
The first batch of the 28-member contingent, including 18 athletes, left for Tokyo from here Friday evening.
Dutee Chand (100m and 200m), Tajinder Pal Singh Toor (shot put), Kamalpreet Kaur (discus throw), Avinash Sable (3,000m steeplechase), Sreeshankar and the men’s 4x400m relay and mixed 4×400 relay team members were among the 18 athletes who left for Tokyo.
Women’s discus thrower Seema Punia and her coach will head Sunday for Tokyo. Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, along with his physio and coach, will arrive July 26 in Tokyo 26 from his training base in Sweden.
Athletics events will be held from July 30 to August 8.
Athletes, Warning, Dutee Chand, Neeraj Chopra, AFI, Adille Sumariwalla, KT Irfan
