Why Three Qualified Athletes Were Dropped From World C’ships Squad

Despite booking a berth at the event, Sudha Singh, Ajoy Kumar Saroj and PU Chitra have been dropped from the team.

Sudha Singh celebrates after winning gold in the women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase event during Asian Athletics Championship at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 8 July 2017. 

(Photo: IANS)

Earlier this month, Sudha Singh, Ajoy Kumar Saroj and PU Chitra were the toast of India’s athletics fraternity, having bagged gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar.

With the medals at the continental event came a direct qualification spot for August’s World Athletics Championships. A chance to compete with the best.

However the 3000m steeplechaser and the men’s and women’s 1500m runners have all been denied a trip to the big event in London. By their own federation.

In a 24-member squad announced for the 4-13 August event, the Athletics Federation of India simply chose to leave out the gold medallists. Why? Gurbachan Singh, Chairman, Athletics Federation of India Selection Committee explains:

We have not named some athletes who have won gold in Asian Championships because their performances were well below the IAAF World Championships qualifying standards.

How Do Players Qualify?

A spot at the World Championships, where the likes of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah compete, can be earned through two routes:

1. Either by making the qualification mark set by the sport’s parents body, the IAAF
2. Or by finishing first in the event at a continental tournament, like the Asian Championships

Sudha, Ajoy, Chitra and most other members of the Indian contingent booked their berth through the second route – by winning a gold at July’s event in Bhubaneshwar.

Then Why Drop Just These Three?

While players can qualify for the tournament themselves, the final decision still stands with the local sports federation. In this case, it means the Athletics Federation of India, whose stance on this selection has been clear from the beginning – that the players simply do not cut it on the international level.

Their performances were far below World Championships entry standards and are even worse than the junior national record. World Championships is not an exposure tour or a minor competition. The best of the world compete there and we cannot send athletes who are not up to certain standards.

Adille Sumariwalla, AFI President

How Far Behind Are They?

Steeplechaser Sudha clocked 9 minute 59.47 seconds to win the gold in Bhubaneswar, while the qualification time for the World Championships is set at 9:42.00.

1500m runner Ajay Kumar Saroj’s winning time in Bhubaneswar was 3:45.85, while his personal best is 3:43.27. The qualification mark for London though is a long way off at 3:36.00.

In the women’s 1500m event as well, Chitra won with a time of 4:17.92. The qualification mark is 4:07.50. For context though, the world record stands at 3:26.00.

The AFI has decided to send athletes only if their performance is near the qualification mark of the event. Chitra’s performance is nowhere near the qualification mark.

PT Usha

What Next?

Chitra’s exclusion from the team also provoked Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of her state Kerala, to speak out in support. In a Facebook post, the CM wrote that Chitra was the "pride not only of Kerala but also the country. Dropping her from the team for World Athletics Championship is condemnable".

Sudha has filed a writ petition in the High Court, which has now sought an explanation from the central government for the runner’s exclusion.

Who IS India Sending Then?

The Indian team comprises 14 men who will participate in eight different disciplines, while 10 women athletes will compete in six various events.

The biggest shot at a medal in London though will be World junior record holder in javelin, Neeraj Chopra. He too qualified by winning a gold in Bhubaneshwar.

The men's and women's 4x400m relay team also made it to the World Championships. The top-8 finishers in the World Relays Championships in Bahamas have already qualified for the World Championships and the remaining eight slots was to be filled from the next top-8.

India's campaign at the World Championships will begin with long distance runner Govindan Lakshmanan's participation in the mens' 10000m final on 5 August.

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