Unavailability of top athletes has forced Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to cancel the Indian Grand Prix series, proposed to held in Patiala later this month.
The AFI had proposed to hold at least two legs of Indian Grand Prix in Patiala later this month so that the athletes can have more competitions ahead of July 23-August 3 Glasgow Games but it is now learnt that the events will not be held due lack of top stars.
"The likes of discus throwers Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil and shot putter Om Prakash Karhana have left the country for foreign training. Then, coach Nikolai Snesarev does not want long and middle distance runners training under him to participate. So, the AFI has decided not to hold the Indian Grand Prix," a top AFI official told PTI.
This means that most of the athletes will have just one national meet before the Commonwealth Games -- the National Inter-State Championships -- in Lucknow from June 5-8, which will also be the selection trials for the CWG.
The Indian athletes were also left with lesser number of competitions after the Asian Athletics Association decided to scrap the Asian Grand Prix this year.
