Siddhanth Thingalaya keen on trials in Bhubaneswar

The 110m hurdles national record holder is required to participate in a ‘confirmatory trial’ for next month’s Asian Championships.

Siddhanth Thingalaya, the 110m hurdles national record holder, with his American coach Gary Cablayan.

Mumbai’s Siddhanth Thingalaya, the 110m hurdles national record holder who is training in California, is keen to have his trials in Bhubaneswar on July 3 for next month’s Asian Championships at the Odisha capital.

The Athletics Federation of India had made it clear on Wednesday that athletes training abroad should appear for trials in Patiala on June 25 and 26 if they want to compete in the Asians which begin on July 6.

But before that, on June 16, the chief national coach Bahadur Singh had written to Thingalaya, who incidentally is the first Indian sprint hurdler to qualify for the World Championships (in London, in August), and Asian discus throw champion Vikas Gowda, that they should give a ‘confirmatory trial’ either in NIS Patiala or in Bhubaneswar as they had not taken part in any National meets this year.

No date was given for the trials but the chief coach had mentioned that athletes should confirm their arrival plans in India before June 18. “I’ve opted for Bhubaneswar and since I will be reaching Mumbai on June 30, I had replied (on June 16) that I prefer to have it any time after June 30 but preferably on July 3,” Thingalaya told Sportstar from California.

Vikas Gowda could not be contacted for his comments.