May 10, 2017, New Delhi: Top Indian athletes will be in action once again on Thursday during the second leg of 2017 Indian Grand Prix (IGP) athletics series which will kick off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on May 11, 2017. There are more than 100 participants competing in the 21 athletics discipline in both men and women category of IGP 2017 second-leg.
Muhammad Anas who won the gold in the 400m men in the third leg of Asian Grand Prix (AGP) with the timing of 45.69s is yet to break the IAAF World Championships qualification mark of 45.50s. The 22-year old athlete from Kerala settled for gold medal with 45.89s in the first-leg in Patiala four days ago and will look forward to improve his timing in Delhi to book a berth for World Championships. Olympians Kunhu Mohammed and Rajiv Arokia are also in the contest to book their spot for London in men’s 400m event.
Two-time Olympian and Asian Games Gold medalist M R Poovamma is also in the race to qualify for the upcoming IAAF event in London. She made India proud by winning a bronze with the timing of 53.11s at the women’s 400m category of the AGP 2017 – 3rd leg in Taipei. The Mangalore sprinter won the gold in the IGP 2017 leg-1 clocking 53.48s. The IAAF qualification mark is 52.10s and Poovamma is eyeing to break this barrier in Delhi tomorrow.
In men’s shot put, Om Prakash Singh Karhana, who won a gold with a throw of 19.58m in AGP Taipei leg, will be the star attraction. Karhana, a former National record holder, won the shot put gold with a 19.14m distance in Patiala. His effort, however, fell short of the World Championships entry mark of 20.50m.
Long Jumper, Ankit Sharma who hails from Uttar Pradesh won the gold medal with an effort of 7.68m in Patiala. The Olympian also holds the long jump national record of 8.19 m which he set in June 2016 at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Ankit is capable of repeating his best performance and push himself ahead of World Championship mark of 8.15m to register his chances to London event.
Punjab’s Arpinder Singh won the gold medal in the men’s triple jump event with 16.35m which is just 45cms insufficient than the qualification mark of IAAF World Championships which stands at 16.80m. His personal best is 17.17m.
Merlin K Joseph bagged the gold medal in the 100m women with the timings of 11.88s at IGP 2017 first-leg. World Championships qualification mark is 11.26s.
In men’s 10000m, Olympians and top marathon runners from India, T Gopi and Kheta Ram will be in action.
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