Renjith Maheshwary, Om Prakash Doubtful for Asian Games
While triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary finished last in the IAAF Inter-Continental Cup in Morocco, shot putter Om Prakash Karhana suffered an ankle injury during the trials in Patiala.
Triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary and shot putter Om Prakash Karhana were on Monday rendered doubtful for the upcoming Asian Games though the Athletics Federation of India is yet to take a final call on the matter. (Asian Games: Five Memorable Moments)
The fate of men's 4x400m relay team will also be decided by the AFI on Tuesday.
Maheshwary finished last in the IAAF Inter-Continental Cup in Marrakech in Morocco on Monday with a disappointing effort of 15.91m, while Karhana suffered an ankle injury while warming up for the 'selection trials' in Patiala.
Maheshwary, Karhana, triple jumper Mayookha Johny, the women's 4x100m and 4x400m relay and men's 4x400m relay teams were included in the 56-member athletics team named by the AFI for the Asian Games, to be held in Incheon, subject to trials. (Asian Games: What to Expect From India)
The trials were held at the NIS Patiala on Monday. The government has, however, cleared them for the Games by including them in the 679-strong Indian contingent.
Instead of the trials in Patiala, Maheshwary, a former national record holder with a personal best of 17.07m, was given the chance to compete in the prestigious IAAF event in Morocco after Asian Games-bound and continental season leader Arpinder Singh decided to skip it.
Two season leaders from four regions -- Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Americas -- compete in the IAAF Continental Cup.
AFI Selection Committee chairman Gurbachan Singh Randhawa told PTI that Maheshwary is more or less out of Asian Games team.
"From my side, I will say he should not be sent for the Asian Games, 100 percent. His performance (in Morocco) is really really bad. We will sit tomorrow and assess the performance of these athletes after today's trials at the NIS Patiala. But as far as I am concerned Maheshwary has no chance to go to Incheon," he said.
"It will also be difficult for Om Prakash to make it to the team. He was struggling for some time and on top of that he suffered an injury today at the NIS. I think he is also likely to be out of the team," Randhawa added.