Sprinters complain of start list at National Games

The athletics competition of the ongoing National Games has caught undue controversy after a few of the sprinters complained about the start list. The start list of the men’s 100 metres competition had listed over 16 sprinters, including Animesh Kujur and Amlan Borghohain, which led to a few of the competitors questioning whether the competition was being held as per the rules.

The competition rules for the National Games — since the 2022 Games in Ahmedabad — stipulate that the top-16 ranked athletes in individual disciplines and the top-8 ranked in the team events would be eligible to participate.

However, the start list before the heats on Saturday had in total nineteen runners split into three races. “I am surprised to know the runners in the 100m field. It seems they are not following the competition rules at all. I thought only top-16 athletes can compete in individual events,” said a source.

However, the director of competition, Stanley Jones, denied any foul play on the part of the organisers, saying the numbers keep on fluctuating depending on the number of wildcards being availed by the states.

“I think there is some confusion. First of all, host states enter a few athletes other than the top-16 in the country. Further, other states can avail a wildcard entry in competitions where they do not have representation. So I do not know why anyone is complaining,” Jones told The Tribune.

There is another issue that has dogged the long jump athletes. The local organisers have mixed marble ash with the mud in the long jump pit, causing a lot of anxiety among them.

Jones, once again, clarified that jumpers do not need to worry one bit. “It was mixed with the mud and there was no issue and we had jumps in the morning and it was fine,” he said.