CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, April 13: A total of 140 athletes will be taking part in the 9th Indian Open Race-Walking Competition, held by the Jharkhand Athletics Association under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), on April 16-17 in Ranchi. The competition will be organised in accordance with the rules of World Athletics- Competition and Technical Rules 2022 Edition & Indian Athletics Manual.
C.D. Singh, Secretary at Jharkhand Athletics Association said that Ranchi has been considered the best venue for the competition and it will be held every year for the next five years in the state capital.
“The venue has been approved by AFI and we are hoping to conduct a successful competition as we have done in the past. All the preparations have been done and the players will be arriving on 15th by the latest,” he said.
The competition will be held in the Men, Women, U-20 boys and U-20 girls sections. The race will be held in 10 km, 20 km and 35 km categories. Many national-level athletes such as Sandeep Kumar, Ram Babu and Priyanka will be taking part in the national level competition.
The players will be divided into two groups – Group A and Group B. Group A will consist of elite athletes who have participated in higher levels such as nationals whereas Group B will have regular athletes.
The Secretary also informed that the route from DC’s residence to Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Morabadi will be a loop for the competition and the athletes will walk on this route from 4 am to 10 am on the 16th and 17th. Therefore, the route will be closed for public use during that time.
The competition will have a total of six judges, 60 technical officials from Jharkhand and a total of 25 officials who will look upon the competition.
