Hima named in the team event of World Athletics

World junior champion Hima Das was named as 4x400m relayrunner in India's 25-member squad for the World Athletics Championships to beheld in Doha from September 27.  But shefailed to qualify for her individual event.

In place of Hima, surprise packet from Haryana Anjal Devicould be named in the 400m individual event as stunned everyone to clockqualifying time in domestic circuit coming out of nowhere after skippingnational camps.

"The committee also decided to conduct a confirmatory trial for quarter-miler Anjali Devi for selection in the team in individual women's 400m. The trial will be conducted on September 21st at the NIS Patiala," the AFI release added.

The number of athletes announced after a meeting of AFIselection committee will, however, increase after the international body (IAAF)gives confirmation of the likes of World University 100m champion Dutee Chand,who did not meet the qualification mark but is within the required number ofcompetitors for the event.

Hima, despite winning six golds in Europe, could not qualify for her pet event 400m but she has been named to run in the women's 4x400m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay races.

The AFI is even hoping that the mixed 4x400m relay team can come in the medal bracket or at least close to it.

The name of star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is undergoing rehabilitation after elbow surgery, was also discussed but was not named in the team.

"The selection committee also approved the names of sprinters Dutee Chand (100m women), Archana Suseentran (200m women) and high jumper Tejaswin Shankar subject to an invitation from the IAAF.

An AFI official said that Tejaswin will be asked to come toIndia and undergo a trial if he wants to take part in the World Championships.

"If the IAAF sends an invite for Tejaswin, we will askhim to at least jump 2.25m if not the World Championships qualificationstandard of 2.30m," the official said.

The personal best for Tejaswin is 2.29m, which is also thenational record.

The selection committee meeting, chaired by OlympianGurbachan Singh Randhawa, was attended by AFI President Adille Sumariwalla,chief coach Bahadur Singh, Bahadur Singh Saggu, Krishna Poonia, Praveen Jolly,Uday Prabhu, Paramjit Singh.

Former chief coach JS Saini and current deputy chief coachRadhakrishnan Nair were special invitees.

The AFI said that the 4x400m relay teams will perform betterthan they did in the World Relays in Yokohama in May last.

"We have invested a lot of time in the 400m runners,getting them to train under renowned coach Galina Bukharina. We believe thatthe squad has been well prepared to deliver the best results on the worldstage," AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said.

The team:

Men: Jabir MP (400m Hurdles), Jinson Johnson (1500m),Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase), KT Irfan and Devender Singh (20km RaceWalk), Gopi T (Marathon), Sreeshankar M (Long Jump), Tajinder Pal Singh Toor(Shot Put), Shivpal Singh (Javelin Throw), Muhammed Anas, Nirmal Noah Tom, AlexAntony, Amoj Jacob, KS Jeevan, Dharun Ayyasamy and Harsh Kumar (4x400m Men's& Mixed Relay).

Women: PU Chitra (1500m), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), HimaDas, Vismaya VK, Poovamma MR, Jisna Mathew, Revathi V, Subha Venkatsan, VithyaR (4x400m Women & Mixed Relay).