AFI eyeing six Olympic berths

The Athletics Federation of India is hopeful of achieving Rio Olympic qualification standards in at least six events in the 55th National Open Athletics Championships beginning at SAI Complex here tomorrow.
Men's triple jump and long jump, women's steeplechase, 20km walk, shot put and discus throw are the six events where the Indian athletes can achieve the respective qualification marks, AFI secretary CK Valson said here today.
Meanwhile, Asian Games gold medallist Seema Punia and national record holder Krishna Poonia will miss out from the women's discus throw event of the four-day meet. Poonia is indisposed, while Punia has skipped the meet because of personal reason, the organisers said.

968 athletes, including 312 in the women's section from across 24 states and eight sport bodies, will compete in 44 events in the 55th edition of the meet.