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New Delhi: The number of Indians participating at the World Athletics Championships next month in Tokyo is expected to be a lot less that its 2023 edition in Hungary.
India had sent a contingent of 28 last time but since the country isn't expected to qualify for the relay races the contingent is expected to shrink to 15 when the Athletics Federation of India announces the team on August 28.
Javelin gold medallist in Hungary Neeraj Chopra would again headline the Indian contingent, having already received a wild card for being the defending champion.
Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh are the other two javeliners who are in contention to earn berths and would learn their fate on August 27 when the World Athletics updates the Road to Tokyo list.
To qualify for Tokyo, an athlete either has to breach the qualification mark or be among the world ranking quota determined to fill up the total entry number for each event.
Apart from Chopra, Parul Chaudhary (women's 3000m steeplechase), Gulveer Singh (men's 5,000m), Praveen Chithravel (men's triple jump) have earned berth by reaching the automatic qualification mark.
Men's 3000m steeplechase athlete Avinash Sable had qualified but will skip the event after getting operated surgery on his right knee.
Annu Rani (women's javelin), Priyanka Goswami (women's 35km race walk), Animesh Kujur (men's 200m), Abdulla Aboobacker (men's triple jump), Servin Sebastian and Akshdeep Singh (both men's 20km race walk), Ram Baboo (men's 35km race walk), Sachin, Yashvir and Rohit (all men's javelin throw) are in fray through the world ranking quota.
Gulveer is in contention in the 10,000m race, while women's 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji's season ended her with an injury and subsequent surgery.
Star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar failed to get a direct entry as his effort of 8.06m to win gold at National Inter-State Championships in Chennai on Sunday was short of the qualifying mark of 8.27m.
Reigning Asian champion heptathlete Nandini Agasara had qualified but will skip the event as as she is undergoing rehabilitation on her left elbow injury sustained during the continental championships in South Korea in May.
