India enters World Athletics Championships with low expectations

A medal is too far-fetched a thought and even hopes of making finals seem barely believable as India enter World Athletics Championship without two of ir biggest stars -- injured Neeraj Chopra and Hima Das. championship starts from Friday.

Injury concerns for Indian sportspersons

World-class javelin thrower Neeraj is t taking part in September 27 to October 6 showpiece as he has been doing light training since May, having undergone elbow surgery. Ar bright prospect, Hima, trained in Europe for nearly four months, winning some low-level races before pulling out due to a lower back injury after being named in initial team. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) received a lot of flak for her injury manment. A fit Neeraj (who also qualified for Worlds) would have at least given some hope, but Hima was never in scene in her pet 400m event, finishing outside her personal best of 50.79 -- which she clocked during Asian Games last year -- in seven races and two in last two months. It is difficult to predict who among Indians will reach final though AFI is pinning its hopes in three 4x400m relays, particularly mixed 4x400m which is making a debut in World Championships.

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A medal though will be out of bounds and Anju Bobby George's 2003 Worlds long jump bronze will remain lone success. In last edition in London in 2017, only one Indian made it to finals (Davinder Singh Kang in men's javelin) while race walkers and marathoners produced disappointing performances. Of 27-member Indian team, 13 have been named for relays, though Dharun Ayyasamy will also run in individual 400m hurdles. National record holder Muhammed Anas has t been fielded in individual 400m though he had breached World Championships qualification mark, in order to boost men's 4x400m relay team's chances of making finals.

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India's Tokyo Olympics hopes

top eight finishes in all relays will book a spot in 2020 Tokyo Olympics, something India is aiming for.Hima was initially named in team to boost India's chances in women's 4x400m and mixed 4x400m (India won gold in both in Asian Games but after disqualification of Bahrain in case of mixed relay), but deputy national chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair still feels country can reach mixed 4x400m finals.

"t much difference (with Hima's pulling out). We have to be positive and (I) still believe that we can reach finals in mixed 4x400m relay," Nair said.

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Among or athletes, young long jumper M Sreeshankar, metric mile runner Jinson Johnson and shot putter Tejinder Pal Singh Toor will have to better than ir best if y want to reach finals, while likes of sprinter Dutee Chand will hope to reach 100m semifinals. Sreeshankar will start India's campaign in qualification round of men's long jump on opening day on Friday. automatic qualification mark for finals has been set at 8.15m through jumpers below this mark can also advance if eugh athletes do t cross cut-off distance to make 12 finalists.

20-year-old Kerala athlete has gone beyond 8.15m just once in his career -- an 8.20m last year in National Open -- though officials described it as a freak jump. He has a best of 8.00m this year and that has placed him second last in terms of season's best among 27 jumpers who will start qualification round. Later in day, Ayyasamy and M P Jabir will run in men's 400m hurdles heats. With 48.80m as his season's best, Ayyasamy, who recently recovered from an injury, has a better chance of making it to semifinals from heat number 5 than Jabir, who will run earlier in first heat. first four in each of five heats and next four fastest will qualify for semifinals. 

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