Toor, Tejaswin to lead Indian challenge at Asian indoor athletics championships

Despite a below-par play implicit the past 2 years, two-time Asian indoor champion shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor volition header the 17-member Indian contingent for the 12th Asian Indoor athletics championships from February 6 to 8. The squad volition permission for Tianjin, China connected February 3, the AFI announced present connected Friday.

Toor, the defending champion, won successful Tehran successful 2024 with a propulsion of 19.72m. The 31-year aged has struggled to transverse the 20m people successful the past 2 seasons, hampered by recurring injuries. His closest rival volition beryllium young compatriot Samardeep Singh Gill, who has been successful bully signifier truthful far.

Also successful the squad is nationalist decathlon grounds holder and Asian Games metallic medallist Tejaswin Shankar, promising agelong jumper Shahnawaz Khan and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel.

Among women, Nithya Gandhe and Abhinaya Rajarajan volition vie successful the 60m sprint portion Moumita Mondal and Ancy Sojan person been named for the agelong jump.

The squad: Men: Manikanta Hoblidhar (60m), Tejas Shirse (60m hurdles), J. Adarsh Ram (high jump), C.V. Anurag, Shahnawaz Khan (long jump), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Samardeep Singh Gill, Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Tejaswin Shankar (heptathlon).

Women: Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan (60m), Moumita Mondal, Pragyan Prasanti Sahu (60m hurdles), Pooja (high jump), Ancy Sojan, Moumita Mondal (long jump), Yogita (shot put), KA Anamika (Pentathlon).