KOCHI: The quartermilers and relay runners will be off to Antalya in Turkey for a two-month training-cum-competition tour in the next few days while the middle and long distance runners will be travelling to Colorado Springs as part of their preparations for this year’s majors.
The Government has sanctioned Rs 1.57 crore for the Turkey trip and Rs 1.19 crore for the USA training, according to a Sports Ministry-SAI release.
Prominent quartermilers including National 400m record holder Muhammed Anas, who is recovering from an injury and is yet to open his competition season, Amoj Jacob, Arokia Rajiv along with sprinters Hima Das, Dutee Chand and steeple chaser Avinash Sable figure in the list (12 athletes for the US and 31 for Turkey).
According to the release, the Turkey trip is from April 10 to June 6 while the US exposure tour will be from April 15 to June 6.
“That is the plan,” said Adille Sumariwalla, the president of the Athletics Federation of India, told The Hindu on Monday.
This year is a packed one with the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games all coming close together between July and September.
