Athletics - Tajinder Singh Toor and Tejaswin Shankar opt out of World Athletics Championship

 

Bengaluru - The Indian camp in the World Athletics Championship, led by Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra, will not feature Asian Shotput record holder Tajinder Singh Toor, and Commonwealth Bronze Medallist Tejaswin Shankar.  The former opted out due to a groin injury from the Asian Athletics Championship, while the latter opted out to concentrate on the Asian Games, starting September 23 in China.

Tajinder’s injury means he will miss the second consecutive World Athletics championship, missing out on the previous edition due to a groin Injury. Tajinder Toor’s Record-breaking throw of 21.77m in June earned him qualification for the Worlds.

High Jumper Tejasiwn Shankar opted out of the Worlds to concentrate on the Asian Games. He explained that his chances of winning a medal in the Asian Games is better than winning in the Worlds. “I see no point in going to the World Championships and jumping 2.16 or 2.20m and coming back empty-handed,” he said. He also put forth the lack of preparation for the event, which requires a leap of 2.30m. “My outdoor season's best this year is 2.21m, so how can I expect to jump 2.30m at the Worlds? When I haven't practiced enough, how can I expect to perform there?.” He said.

Other big names to miss out on the World Athletics Championship to concentrate on the Asian Games are National record holder in 20km Racewalk Priyanka Goswami and long-distance runner KM Chanda. Javelin thrower Rohit Yadav is set to miss out due to an elbow injury.

The World Athletics Championship will start on 19th August in Budapest, Romania. This event will have elite athletes from all over the world taking part.