NEW DELHI: India will host the second and third legs of the Asian Grand Prix athletics circuit, in the month of May.

Bangalore (May 22) and Pune (May 26) have been selected to host the Grand Prix meets. The first meet of the series will be held in Bangkok on May 18.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) recently released the domestic calendar for the 2006 season, which includes 24 competitions for seniors and juniors. The AFI-Salwan throws competition has been upgraded to be an international event and is also included in the IAAF calendar.

The calendar:

First National endurance meet, Delhi, Jan. 31; National cross country championship, Pune, Feb. 5-6; First National circuit meet, Delhi, Feb. 15; Second National circuit meet, Patiala, Feb. 19; Federation Cup cross country championship, Nasik, Feb. 26; Federation Cup, Delhi, Feb. 24-27; World Athletics Day, Bangalore/Patiala, May 8-9; Second Asian Grand Prix, Bangalore, May 22; Third Asian Grand Prix, Pune, May 26.

Salwan-AFI international throws championship, Delhi, May 29-30; National combined events championship, Delhi, June 1-2; Federation Cup National junior championship, Chennai, June 15-18; East Zone junior championship, Durgapur, Sept. 17-19; West Zone junior championship, Pune, Sept. 17-19; South Zone junior championship, Raichur, Sept. 20-22; North Zone junior championship, Saharanpur, Sept. 20-22; National Open championships, Jamshedpur, Oct. 5-8, Inter-zonal junior championships, Lucknow, Oct. 11-13; National Youth (under-18) championship, Warangal, Oct. 24-25.

Third National circuit meet, Chennai, Oct. 28; Fourth National circuit meet, Bangalore, Nov. 2, National inter-district junior championships, Haridwar, Nov. 4-6; National inter-State championships, Chennai, Nov. 14-18; National junior athletics championship, (Karnataka to host, venue to be decided), Nov. 25-29. — Sports Reporter

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