India’s top cross country runners are gearing up for international competition, with an eight-member elite team set to compete in both the Asian and South Asian Cross Country Championships. The Asian event will take place in Hong Kong on October 20th, while the South Asian event is scheduled for Islamabad, Pakistan, on November 24th.
Leading the charge is Gulveer Singh, the Asian Games bronze medalist in the 10,000m. Singh, who recently shattered the 5,000m National Record with a time of 13:11.82 at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Japan, will be joined by his training partner Kartik Kumar, as well as Abhishek Pal and Arun Rathod.
The women’s elite team will feature Ankita, Seema, Sanjivani Jadhav, and Sonika. The junior team, comprised of both men and women, will also compete in both events.
However, participation in the South Asian Cross Country Championships will depend on the athletes’ fitness. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla stated that any athlete deemed unfit will be dropped from the team.
The Indian team is looking to make a strong showing in both championships, with the athletes eager to showcase their talents on the international stage. With a talented roster and dedicated preparation, India has a good chance of securing top positions in both competitions.
