Prepared for the worst, hoping for five

For a long time the Athletics Federation of India had been virtually ignoring the Commonwealth Games...

For a long time the Athletics Federation of India AFI had been virtually ignoring the Commonwealth Games, apparently because medal hopes weren8217;t there. This time it8217;s sending a huge contingent because it feels five medals are possible from the new crop.

In the previous Games, a three-member Indian team had pocketed a silver Neelam J. Singh in discus and a bronze Anju Bobby George in long jump. The third member 8212; shot putter Navpreet Singh was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

In Melbourne, besides women8217;s long jump Anju the AFI pins hopes on men8217;s and women8217;s discus, women8217;s 4x400m relay and heptathlon. There is also a chance in the women8217;s one lap race, according to a functionary of the AFI.

Who are medal prospects?

WOMEN8217;S 1,600M RELAY

The women8217;s 1,600m relay squad reached the Athens Olympics final. They remain in focus. Even if the quartet of Manjit Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Chitra Soman and S Geetha manage to repeat the Athens performance 3:26.85, a national record, a podium finish looks bright. Of course, K. Beenamol isn8217;t around to boost them.

Manjit said before departing: 8220;We can clock a faster time in Melbourne.8221;l have clocked sub-52 timing in 2005. So what does current form say? Going by their current form, coach N Ramesh says they can do it again. Also, no injury problems.

MEN8217;S SHOT PUT

US-based putter Vikas Godwa is ranked second to comparatively Anju. Information is, that Vikas had recently recorded 19.25m indoors. He has been good in discus to. He is currently training for the US indoor inter-collegiate competition, and is expected to finish among medallists in both events.

HEPTATHLON

In hepathlon, apart from JJ Shoba, whose heroic efforts in Athens were lauded by all, Sushmita Singha Roy and Soma Biswas are expected to collect over 6,000 points. That looks medal range. They scored 5800 in the recently-concluded Federation Cup.

WOMEN8217;S DISCUS

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Women discus, isn8217;t going well. Krishan Punia and Seema Antil haven8217;t been consistent. But the AFI remains hopeful of at least one medal. The rest are there for the experience, waiting for the Asian Games in Doha.

THE SQUADS

MEN: Ghamanda Ram 800m, Vikas Gowda shot put, discus, Jora Singh decathlon, PS Jalan 20km walk. WOMEN: Manjeet Kaur 400m, 4x400m relay, Chitra K Soman 4x400m relay, S. Geetha 4x400m relay, Pinki Parmanik 4x400m relay, 800m, Rajwinder Kaur 4x400m relay, Ashiq Beevi 4x400m relay, OP Jaisha 1,500m, Seema Antil, Krishna Punia discus throw, Anju Bobby George long jump, Sushmita Singha Roy, Soma Biswas, JJ Shoba hepathlon and Deep Mala Devi 20 km walk.