Hima not to be part of IAAF Continental Cup

Ace sprinter Hima Das has been relieved from the IAAF Continental Cup, which was scheduled to be held in Czech Republic from Saturday. The decision has been taken by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to give her some rest after the hectic session from Commonwealth Games to the World Juniors and the Asian Games.

The Continental Cup is competed among four teams, which are Europe, Africa, America and Asia-Pacific, in 18 events each in both men and women's sections and the mixed 4x400m relay. The top two athletes in the season's rankings from each of the four regions take part in the Continental Cup.

The junior world 400m champion was initially among the seven Indian athletes to take part in the season-ending IAAF event in Ostrava on September 8 and 9 but after AFI's decision has now been replaced by Australia's Anneliese Rubbie as the second runner from Asia-Pacific.

On Friday, a top coach speaking to PTI said, "Yes, Hima is not running in the IAAF Continental Cup. The AFI has decided to give her rest. She has run so many races this year from the Commonwealth Games to the World Juniors and the Asian Games. It is not good to make her run so many races."

Asking on reports of Hima getting injured during the mixed 4x400m relay race at the Asian Games, the coach ruling out any injury to Hima said, "There is no injury to Hima. Athletes need good recovery time after a hectic season. She is very young, she has just started her career and we have to preserve and manage her workload lest she is burnt out."

Neeraj Chopra (men's javelin), Arpinder Singh (men's triple jump), Mohd. Anas (men's 400m), Jinson Johnson (men's 800m), Sudha Singh (women's 3000m steeplechase) and P U Chitra (women's 1500m) are the Indians taking part in the Continental Cup.