AFI publishes Asian Games qualification marks, stricter than govt's criteria |
New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Saturday announced the qualification marks for the track and field events at the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan in September, with stricter standards than the sports ministry criteria in majority of them.
AFI spokesperson and former president Adille Sumariwalla said the federation has applied higher standard than the sports ministry’s sixth-place finishing mark in the previous Asian Games in China for selection. He said the aim is to win more medals than the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2023.
“We won 29 medals, six of them gold at the previous edition. Our aim is to better our performance. The government has stipulated sixth place for qualification. We have gone to make things slightly more competitive in certain events,” Sumariwalla said while addressing a press conference here.
“In men’s 200m, 400m, 800m, 110m hurdles, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin throw and decathlon, we have taken fifth place while we have set fourth-place standard in men’s 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. Marathon is sixth place.
“In the women’s event, we have made fifth-place mark in 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put. Discus throw, javelin throw. 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay are fourth-place mark. In 4x400m mixed relay, we are looking at fourth-place mark, marathon........