Indians make their 16th appearance at World Athletics Championships. The squad of 26 is bigger than the last two squads. Indian athletes qualify for the events but since 1983 only once has an Indian won a medal at World Athletics Championships. That is Anju Bobby George, who is with current squad as coach. In most of the events, other Indians have even failed to create a Dipa Karmakar or Lalita Babar moment at Global competition. Will this squad provide a miracle moment and get 2nd medal ever for India! The 16th edition is hosted by London from 4-13 August, 2017.
2017 World Athletics Championships Complete Schedule in IST
Irony that a country that is keen to develop sporting facilities for decades and have no dearth of money and talent, even in this squad finds 19-year old junior javelin world record holder Neeraj Chopra as the best bet to earn a medal.
Among others, recent Gold medal winner in 5,000 and 10,000 m events long distance runner G Lakshmanan will participate in 10,000 m event. He is excited to run against his idol Mo Farah, who like Usain Bolt will be participating in his last World Championships.
Many of the members from current squad represented in Rio Olympics too. While none from Men’s team could even enter second round there, some women like Lalita Babar and Tintu Luka did proceed. Indians will hope a better show now.
Indian Men’s Performance at Rio 2016
Indian Women’s Performance at Rio 2016
Squad
Men
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20km walk – Irfan KolothumThodi, Devender Singh and Ganapathi Krishnan
400m and 4x400m relay – Muhammed Anas Yahiya
5000m and 10000m – Lakshmanan Govindnan
110m hurdles – Siddhanth Thingalaya
Marathon – Gopi Thonakal
Javelin Throw – Neeraj Chopra and Davinder Singh Kang
4x400m Relay – Arokia Rajiv, Amoj Jacob, Kunhu Mohammed, Mohan Kumar Raja, Sachin Roby
Women
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20 km walk – Khushbir Kaur
400m and 4x400m relay – Nirmala Sheoran
Heptathlon – Swapna Barman; Marathon- Monika Motiram Athare
Javelin Throw – Annu Rani
4x400m relay – Poovamma Raju Machettira, Jisna Mathew, Anilda Thomas, JaunaMurmu, Anu Raghavan
Team officials & coaches:
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Vishal Kumar Dev, IAS, (team leader); Tony Daniel (team manager), Radha Krishnan Nair (deputy chief coach), Galina Bukharina (coach), PT Usha (coach), Surendra Singh (coach), Alexander Arstybashev (coach), Raj Mohan (coach), Bahadur Singh Chauhan (coach), Anju Bobby George (coach/observer), Arun Mendiratta (team doctor), Pawan Kumar (male masseur), Kinga Lidia (female masseur)
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