Neeraj Chopra Likely To Feature In Indian Athletics Series Final On September 10

Neeraj Chopra is likely to headline the Indian Athletics Series Final, the one-day invitational competition in New Delhi on September 10.

The event, which will feature 31 track and field disciplines, will offer a top prize of ₹1 lakh in every event, according to PTI. The runner-up will receive ₹50,000, while the athletes finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth will earn ₹25,000, ₹20,000, ₹15,000 and ₹10,000 respectively.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has invited the top-ranked athletes from the season to compete at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The top eight athletes in each event will qualify for the final, while the men’s and women’s 1500m and 3000m steeplechase will feature the top 12 ranked athletes.

Chopra, who is still building

his fitness from a back injury, is currently second in the men’s javelin rankings with a season-best throw of 85.69m, recorded at the Doha Diamond League. He trails Rohit Yadav, who leads the rankings after throwing 87.05m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar last month.

“The Final leg of the Indian Athletics Series will be conducted in thirty-one events, including 16 in the women’s group. Top eight athletes as per their ranking in each of the track and field events are eligible to compete in the grand Final,” AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said.

The federation has sent invitations to all eligible athletes, with August 10 set as the deadline to confirm participation. If any of the top-eight ranked athletes withdraws, the next-best athlete from the four reserves will be offered a place.

The final will also serve as an important preparatory event ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

Among the other leading athletes, Gurindervir Singh tops the men’s 100m rankings, Animesh Kujur leads the 200m and national record-holder Vishal TK is first in the 400m. Sarvesh Anil Kushare leads the high jump, while Murali Sreeshankar is ranked first in the long jump.

In the women’s events, Vithya Ramraj tops the 400m and 400m hurdles rankings, Pooja leads the 800m and 1500m, and Jyoti Yarraji is first in the 100m hurdles. Ancy Sojan leads the women’s long jump rankings.