NEW DELHI: Hangzhou Asian Games gold medallist Annu Rani has lost her place in India’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games squad after failing to achieve the qualification standard in women’s javelin throw, TOI has reliably learnt.The development came after the Indian Athletics Final Series at the JLN stadium on Thursday, where Asian Games-bound athletes assessed their form, fitness and injury status, while seeking a final opportunity to attain the qualifying mark.Annu won gold with a 57.50m throw, but fell 12cm short of the 57.62m Games qualification standard. Sources informed the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had made it clear to athletes before the event that the qualification benchmark had to be met.“Anyone who has not achieved the qualification standard will not be sent to the Asian Games. That was the AFI’s clear position. So, if Annu Rani has not qualified, she will not go. Those who have not achieved the mark will not be part of the contingent,” AFI planning committee chairman Lalit K Bhanot told TOI.In contrast, Avinash Sable delivered when it mattered most. Returning to his specialist 3,000m steeplechase after a 14-month injury-enforced hiatus, the 31-year-old clocked 8:32.39 to win gold and clear the 8:36.57 qualification standard.Sable, who underwent surgery for an ACL and meniscus injury after stumbling at the water jump during the last year’s Monaco Diamond League, is now set to defend his Asian Games steeplechase title.TOI has learnt that his entry in the men’s 5,000m has also been accepted by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) through the Games organisers, paving the way for a double-event appearance. “He will compete in both events. We discussed his participation in the 5,000m with the Games organisers, and that has been cleared,” Bhanot said. “If Sable had not qualified in the 3,000m steeplechase here, he would not have competed in the event either,” he added.Meanwhile, Hangzhou Games 100m hurdles silver medallist Jyothi Yarraji, CWG high-jump medallist Sarvesh Anil Kushare and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel have been asked to submit fitness certificates before travelling. All three are returning from injury and must establish fitness. Failure to produce the certificates could jeopardise their Games participation.At Thursday’s meet, hammer thrower Tanya Chaudhary set the lone national record, throwing the implement 68.35m. Ancy Sojan won the long jump with 6.76m, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor took shot-put gold with 20.64m.
