Annu Rani, Sachin Jadhav and Animesh Kujur at the press conference on the eve of World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
In the absence of several top names, including double Olympic medallist and World champion Neeraj Chopra, due to varied reasons, the focus will be on javelin throwers Annu Rani and Sachin Yadav, long jumpers S. Murali and Shaili Singh and sprinter Animesh Kujur as the Kalinga Stadium is all set to host the country’s maiden World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event here on Sunday.
Coincidentally, a good bunch of prominent Indians have been ruled out due to injury or fitness issues.
The event, offering a prize money of $25,000 and featuring 156 athletes, including 63 from more than 15 countries, will offer a chance to qualify for the World championships, starting in Japan from September 13. The athletes can do so either through direct qualification or by improving their rankings.
For Asian Games gold medallist Annu, who returned from Poland on Friday after achieving her season-best mark of 62.59m, this is a stepping stone for the Worlds.
“The training was good because of which I got such a good distance in Poland after the Asian Games. I will try to improve,” said 32-year-old Annu, who is ranked 30th among top-36 and is set for her fifth World championships.
Sachin, who got his season best of 85.16m while claiming the silver in the Asian championships in Korea in May, will be keen to breach the Worlds qualifying mark of 85.50m.
“Despite my ankle issue, I did well (82.33m) in the Neeraj Chopra Classic. I had a good exposure in Europe. I will try to do my best,” said Sachin, who may be challenged by Sri Lankans Rumesh Pathirage and Sumedha Ranashinghe and a host of talented Indians.
Kujur, who returned from Europe after giving some fine performances including National marks of 10.18 in 100m and 20.32 in 200m, said he would focus on 200m while trying to stay close to his personal best.
Sreeshankar, who has recorded some impressive marks including 8.05m since his comeback from a knee surgery, and Shaili, who has a season best of 6.64m, will also try to punch their tickets to Japan.
Published – August 09, 2025 08:10 pm IST
