Inter-State Nationals postponed as West Bengal backs out

The National Inter-state Athletics Championship was scheduled to be held in Kolkata from July 14 to 17.

The National Inter-state Athletics Championship is AFI's main qualification event for this September’s Doha World championships. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

The National inter-State athletics championships, the Athletics Federation of India’s main qualification event for this September’s Doha World championships and  scheduled to be held in Kolkata from July 14 to 17, have been postponed.

Though the AFI has said, in its communication to State associations on Saturday, that the inter-State Nationals have been put off as the national coaches felt that the gap between the National meet and the Worlds was too big, the real reason appears to be West Bengal backing out.

“It is not going to be held in Kolkata. The organisers have said that they don’t want to host it,” Bahadur Singh, the chief national coach, told Sportstar on Saturday evening.

“We are not hosting it, the problem is due to the election and it will be raining in July.  I have written to the AFI that we will not be able to host it,” said Kamal Kumar Maitra, the West Bengal Athletics Association Secretary.

The new dates and venue will be announced soon.