A sedate start to the World Athletic Championships at Moscow. A biennial event, this brings the world's best athletes today to compete against the best. Aside of the Olympics, this is the only event where the World's best converge to compete to be first amongst equals.
India has had just one medal since the inaugural meet held in Helsinki in 1983.
Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal in the women's long jump in Paris, 2003.
A 15 member team will represent India this time. While some of them should make it to the finals, my personal bets would be on:
- the 4x400m womens relay team,
- Tintu Luka (800m)
- KT Irfan (20km walk) and
- Vikas Gowda (Discus Throw)
A bit heavy on the walking contingent (6 walkers out of a team of 15), they'll be keenly watched as India's been consistently getting better in the walking discipline over the years.
While medals may be a distant dream, the Indian athletes would be best served if they could concentrate on improving upon their personal best.
Even a single medal would be a watershed event in the history of Indian athletics.
The most watched event will of course be the 100m final, to be held on August 17 where Usain Bolt will try to win another gold medal and get some credibility back to the Jamaican racing squad which has, of late, been in the news for all the wrong reasons (doping).
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| Anju Bobby George - India's only medal winner at the World Championships (2003, Paris) |
Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal in the women's long jump in Paris, 2003.
A 15 member team will represent India this time. While some of them should make it to the finals, my personal bets would be on:
- the 4x400m womens relay team,
- Tintu Luka (800m)
- KT Irfan (20km walk) and
- Vikas Gowda (Discus Throw)
A bit heavy on the walking contingent (6 walkers out of a team of 15), they'll be keenly watched as India's been consistently getting better in the walking discipline over the years.
While medals may be a distant dream, the Indian athletes would be best served if they could concentrate on improving upon their personal best.
Even a single medal would be a watershed event in the history of Indian athletics.
The most watched event will of course be the 100m final, to be held on August 17 where Usain Bolt will try to win another gold medal and get some credibility back to the Jamaican racing squad which has, of late, been in the news for all the wrong reasons (doping).
If India gets away with even 1 medal, given the current line up, it is still an improvement over the recent performances. I'm not saying that in a cynical way, but I hope we do get a couple to keep the interest alive
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