Asian Games-bound athletes to play it safe at Indian Athletics Final Series

Bengaluru: With the Indian Athletics Final Series lined up days before the start of the Asian Games in Japan, the track and field athletes have prioritised playing it safe at the mandatory event before their departure for the quadrennial event.

The one-day finale at New Delhi’s JLN Stadium, which is the culmination of 15 prior competitions in the season that started in Bengaluru last April, was made mandatory for participation by the Athletics Federation of India. The competition was also virtually deemed an internal trials before the Asian Games, especially for the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

However, with a 73-member squad already confirmed late last month by the Indian Olympic Association after the selection list was sent by AFI in late June, the New Delhi finale has lost its significance, with no further change in the squad possible.