Tokyo Paralympics and Olympics (Photo Credit: Twitter)
National para-athletics coach Satyapal Singh mentioned that Indians missed out on doable Paralympic quota locations as they could not compete within the European Grand Prix circuit.
- IANS
- Last Updated:May 17, 2021, 23:10 IST
- FOLLOW US ON:
Wheelchair-bound discus thrower Sakshi Kasana was amongst a number of Indian para athletes who couldn’t compete within the just-concluded European Grand Prix circuit — and presumably earn Paralympic quota locations — due to the Covid pandemic, mentioned nationwide para athletics coach Satyapal Singh on Monday.
“The May 5-7 Paris Grand Prix was cancelled due to the pandemic. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) didn’t approve of the entries of the Indian athletes for the Switzerland Grand Prix (May 14-16 in Nottwil). Both occasions might have been good platforms for Indian para athletes to earn quota locations for the Tokyo Paralympic,” rued the Delhi-based Singh.
The coach said that Sakshi, 22, had won silver with a throw of 19.34 metres in F-55 category on her debut at the National Para Athletics Championships held in Bengaluru in March. “She has potential to do better. A performance of 20m and above could have enabled her to stay in the race for quota place,” the Dronacharya award winner advised IANS.
Singh mentioned that among the para athletes who’ve already achieved minimal qualifying rating (MQS) in earlier competitions are eligible to compete in subsequent month’s nationwide choice trials for the Tokyo Paralympics.
“But these para athletes like Sakshi who haven’t achieved MOS of their respective occasions can’t compete within the nationwide trials.” he explained.
The Sports Authority of India recently closed the national camps in New Delhi due to lockdown, said the coach. “Several para athletes have gone back home and some don’t have proper facilities to train. It is a challenging time for all,” he added.
Read all of the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News right here
