AFI Media
Coimbatore
Over 2200 athletes in various age groups from across the country will be seen in action during the three-day 38th National Junior Athletics Championship starting Tuesday at Coimbatore’s newly laid synthetic track of the Nehru Stadium.
N Ramesh, chief junior athletics coach said, the three-day age group competition will be a good platform to keep a track of the progress made by youngsters.
According to the chief junior athletics coach, next year is important as it will feature the 2024 World U20 Athletics Championships in Peru and continental championship in April or May. “During the competition we will keep a record of those athletes who are eligible to compete in U20 next year,” the chief junior athletics coach added.
Two promising athletes—Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh in pole vault and Haryana’s international high jumper Pooja have already achieved the qualification mark for the World U20 Athletics Championships during the athletics competition of the 37th National Games held in Goa. On his way to gold in the men’s pole vault, Meena cleared a height of 5.15m, which was better than the World U20 qualification standard of 5.10m. While Pooja cleared 1.80m in the high jump. She won gold
“Both Meena and Pooja will have to maintain their performance next year and final selection will be subject to fitness trials,” N Ramesh said.
More than 10 finals in various age groups are scheduled for the opening day of the competition.
