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AFI names 32 member athletics squad for Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, includes Neeraj Chopra conditionally based on fitness.
Neeraj Chopra.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has unveiled a 32-member athletics contingent for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with javelin star Neeraj Chopra included ‘conditionally’. Chopra has been dealing with a few nagging injuries, including a back issue, for the past few months, and whether or not he’ll travel to Glasgow will be contingent on him clearing the AFI’s fitness criteria.
Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur, who recently exchanged the national 100m record, will lead the team, which features most of the country’s leading track-and-field stars, including Tejaswin Shankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Sarvesh Kushare. The biggest omission is 400m runner Vishal TK, who missed AFI’s qualification mark by just 0.02 seconds.
Several athletes sealed their spots with record-breaking performances at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May. Javelin throwers, who failed to qualify there, were given a final opportunity in Jalandhar on June 13, where Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh surpassed the AFI mark of 82.61m with career-best throws.
“We have selected the team today. As you are aware that we have a quota of 32 athletes. We have selected 22 men and 10 women to fill the quota. As we have mentioned earlier, our selection has been as per the policy of AAFI. We have also in the policy mentioned that athletes who have asked for special permission, who have participated abroad, taken prior permission, their performances have been taken into consideration,” AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said while addressing the media during a virtual press conference on Sunday.
“There are two people who we have selected and they have requested that their performances, one in the coming interstate meet be considered. That is Selva Prabhu who is also an NCAA athlete as well as Neeraj who has requested that he would be participating in a couple of competitions before the Commonwealth Games. If he achieves his qualifying standard, he has also requested to be selected. Neeraj would participate in a couple of international meets before the Commonwealth Games,” Sumariwalla added.
India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 athletics squad:
Men’s: Gurindervir Singh (100m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yashvir Singh (Javelin), Lokesh Satyanathan, Sreeshankar (Long Jump), Selva Prabhu, Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump), Samardeep, Tajinderpal (Shot Put), Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon, High Jump), Gulveer Singh (5000m, 10000m), Aadarsh Ram, Sarvesh (High Jump). Jump), Vishal TK, Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m mixed relay), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Santosh T, Yashas P (400m hurdles), Dev Meena, Kuldeep Kumar (Pole Vault)
Women’s: Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase, 5000m), Seema, Nidhi (Discus Throw), Pooja (High Jump), Manpreet Kaur (Discus Throw), Ravina Priyanka (1000 m racewalk), Ansa Babu, Rashdeep Kaur, Neeru Pathak (4x400m mixed relay)
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