Ranchi to host Asian athletics championship in 2017

Nearly 800 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part. The winners of the Asian meet will get a direct berth for the World championship in London from August 4-13.

In the previous edition in Wuhan (China), India had bagged five gold, four silver and four bronze medals to finish third in the medals table behind China and Qatar.

The 22nd Asian athletics championship will be held in India after a gap of four years. The Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi will host the event from July 1 to 4, 2017.

Recently, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials visited the venue before finalising it. “There are minor repair works in the long jump take-off area, and they will be done shortly. We are using a venue which was used for shooting during the 2011 National Games as a warm-up area for discus, javelin and hammer throw,” AFI secretary C.K. Valson told Sportstar .

The Jharkhand Government has come forward to support the event which will be staged in India for the third time, the previous editions being New Delhi (1989) and Pune (2013). Ranchi had hosted the junior National championship this year.

Nearly 800 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part. The winners of the Asian meet will get a direct berth for the World championship in London from August 4-13. As host, India is eligible to field three athletes in each discipline, instead of the usual two.

In the previous edition in Wuhan (China), India had bagged five gold, four silver and four bronze medals to finish third in the medals table behind China and Qatar.