Date:13/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/13/stories/2007091355152100.htm

Sport - Athletics

No Indian likely for World athletics final

NEW DELHI: Unless someone gets a ‘wild card’ entry, no Indian athlete will figure in the World athletics final to be held in Stuttgart, Germany, on September 22 and 23.

No Indian athlete is ranked among the top seven (top 11 for races over 1500m) on the World Athletics Tour standings to be eligible for participation. There are just two Golden League meets and one Area (Europe) Permit meet remaining on the calendar before Stuttgart.

Qualification for the final is based on a points system for places in the Golden League, Super Grand Prix, Grand Prix and Area Permit meetings. Performances in the Asian Grand Prix circuit were counted this year.

At joint 11th, US-based discus thrower Vikas Gowda is the highest ranked Indian on the WAT standings. Long jumper Anju George, who had won the silver in the final in 2005, is joint 16th.

The other Indians on the WAT standings are: Men: 400m: K. M. Binu (joint 52nd); 1500m: C. Hamza (joint 34th), Sajeesh Joseph (joint 52nd); 3000m: Surendra Kumar (joint 15th), Sunil Kumar (joint 20th); 400m hurdles: Joseph Abraham (joint 26th); high jump: Hari Sankar Roy (22nd); triple jump: Renjith Maheswary (joint 14th); shot put: Saurabh Vij (15th).

Women: 400m: Chitra K. Soman (joint 22nd); 1500m: Sinimole Paulose (20th). — Special Correspondent