In a significant announcement on Thursday, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) declared its 28-member athletics squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Despite a last-minute rush and an impressive performance that positioned her as the second-fastest Asian quarter-miler this season, Kiran Pahal did not make it to the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team.
Kiran Pahal, who clocked an outstanding 50.92 seconds at the recent Inter-State Nationals and earned the best athlete award, will compete in the individual 400m event at the Olympics after achieving the qualification standard in Panchkula. However, the AFI has maintained its policy of including only national campers in the relay team, leading to the exclusion of both Kiran and Deepanshi, who secured the second position in the Inter-State meet.
Surprisingly, Kiran was included in the Indian 4x400m mixed relay team at the Inter-State Nationals in a last-ditch effort to qualify for Paris. Yet, this did not influence the final decision for the women’s relay team composition.
The squad features javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India’s first-ever Olympic champion in athletics, as the most prominent name. Other notable athletes in the team include Asian Games champions Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, and Annu Rani. Parul Chaudhary will compete in two individual events—the women’s 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m.
Rajesh Ramesh, who did not run an individual 400m this year and whose injury resulted in a Did Not Finish (DNF) for India at the World Relays in the Bahamas in May, is listed in the men’s 4x400m relay team. “He is our No. 1 runner and he is fit now,” stated AFI president Adille Sumariwalla.
Despite qualifying through world rankings, javelin thrower D.P. Manu has been excluded from the squad following a provisional suspension for doping violations.
The athletics competition at the Paris Olympics will be held from August 1 to 11. Indian athletes will also participate in the marathon race-walk mixed relay, which will make its Olympic debut in Paris.
Men’s Team:
Avinash Sable (3,000m steeplechase)
Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw)
Kishore Kumar Jena (javelin throw)
Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put)
Praveen Chithravel (triple jump)
Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump)
Sarvesh Kushare (high jump)
Akshdeep Singh (20km race walk)
Vikash Singh (20km race walk)
Paramjeet Singh Bisht (20km race walk)
Muhammed Anas (4x400m relay)
Muhammed Ajmal (4x400m relay)
Amoj Jacob (4x400m relay)
Santhosh Tamilarasan (4x400m relay)
Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m relay)
Mijo Chacko Kurian (4x400m relay)
Suraj Panwar (race walk mixed marathon)
Women’s Team:
Kiran Pahal (400m)
Parul Chaudhary (3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m)
Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles)
Annu Rani (javelin throw)
Abha Khatua (shot put)
Jyothika Sri Dandi (4x400m relay)
Subha Venkatesan (4x400m relay)
Vithya Ramraj (4x400m relay)
Poovamma MR (4x400m relay)
Prachi (4x400m relay)
Priyanka Goswami (20km race walk/ race walk mixed marathon)
This announcement sets the stage for an exciting and challenging Olympic journey for India’s top athletes, who aim to make a significant impact on the global stage in Paris.
