India Open under-23 athletics: Gifted athletes desirous to show their value

File picture of Olympian Ankita Dhyani (748).
| Picture Credit score: The Hindu

A number of proficient athletes are desirous to show their value within the Indian Open under-23 athletics occasion, beginning on the Patliputra Sports activities Complicated in Patna on Saturday (September 28, 2024).

Olympian Ankita Dhyani, who competed in 5000m in Paris however will strive her hand in 3000m steeplechase in Patna, 100m Nationwide file holder Manikanta Hobildhar (10.23), 200m Federation Cup and Inter-state champion Animesh Kujur, who got here near equalling the Nationwide file this yr, South Asian under-20 champion triple jumper Rishika Awasthi and promising race walker Mansi Negi are amongst those that could hog the limelight.

Notably, the boys’s 100m has attracted 89 entries.

The fourth version assumes significance because it comes earlier than the inaugural Asian under-23 occasion subsequent yr. “The under-23 occasion will bridge the hole between the under-20 and elite ranges. It was authorised within the final council assembly of the Asian Athletics and the bidding course of is on,” mentioned Asian Athletics Affiliation technical director C.Okay. Valson.

“As per a examine, most of the under-20 athletes don’t make it large on the elite stage due to the hole. In my occasion, racewalk, athletes mature late. So this sort of competitors helps them,” mentioned 2012 Olympian race walker Basant Rana, who now serves as a coach within the Military.

Apart from, the athletes will look to carry out properly forward of the Asian and World championships subsequent yr.