PT Usha clarified the situation surrounding PU Chitra and her absence from the team that will compete for India at the World Championships in London from August 4. The former national champion clarified that Chitra was't selected because she failed to meet the qualifying mark set by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). "Chitra was excluded from the national team as she could not meet the qualifying mark set by IAAF," said Usha at a press conference on Wednesday. Chitra's ouster from the team created a controversy after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said not including Chitra a "pride not only of Kerala but also the country, from the team for World Athletics Championship is condemnable." She was expected to be included in the team thanks to her gold medal at the recent Asian Championships. "The team was picked by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). I was not a part of the selection committee and I attended the meeting only as an observer. Even though Chitra had won the 1,500m gold in the recent Asian Athletics Championships, the AFI has the discretion to decide whether to include her or not in the squad," said Usha in her defence after reports claimed she didn't back Chitra in the selection meeting. As per the rules, athletes have two routes to qualifying for World Championships. One by making the qualification mark set by IAAF and the second is by winning gold in the continental championships. In Chitra's case, she did not meet the qualification standard. But she won gold in the Asian championship held in Bhubaneswar. "According to IAAF regulations, the athletics federation of any country can make changes in the second criteria - of sending those who won gold in continental championships to the world meet," Usha said. "The AFI has decided to send athletes only if their performance is near the qualification mark of the event. Chitra's performance is nowhere near the qualification mark," she added.
