Neeraj Chopra to spearhead Indian challenge at World Championships

AFI) on Thursday named a 22-member squad that included Maharashtra quarter-miler Aishwarya Mishra, subject to her clearing the 400m trials with electronic time ahead of the event. Mishra, who turned out at the national inter-state senior championships in Chennai earlier this month, after evading dope testing agencies since her impressive 51.18s show at the Federation Cup in Kozhikode in April, will also have to undergo dope tests before boarding the flight to the US. "Aishwarya Mishra's case is simple.

She will have to clear the 400m trials with electronic time and also undergo the dope tests before she makes it to the World Championships. Also, as far as I know, she was tested at the Inter-State meet in Chennai,” AFI president Adille Sumariwalla said in a virtual interaction on Thursday. Among other prominent names in the squad are Abhinash Sable and seasoned shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who Sumariwalla feels have been improving rapidly ever since he returned from the surgery on his left wrist post the Tokyo Olympics.

Asian champion Toor recently bagged the gold medal at the inter-state nationals with a throw of 20.34m. But as far as the World Championships are concerned his effort did not meet the entry standard of 21.10m. He however, made the cut for the showpiece event in the US through his world ranking of 30th.

The top 32 shot putters are allowed entry at the World championships. "Toor has been on the rise ever since he returned from the surgery. He has shown great improvements in his performances.

He came up with a throw of 20.34m at the inter-state nationals but could not take part in his overseas event as he had the flight on the same day. He is the best we have in Shot Put," Sumariwalla said. Arokia