Monika misses out on Asian Games qualification mark in retrial

The 1500m runner Monika Chaudhary today failed to meet the Asian Games qualification mark in the re-trial held here on the orders of Delhi High Court.

She clocked 4:35.51 in the re-trial held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, while the qualification mark set by the Athletics Federation of India was 4:16.88. She will now miss the bus for the Asian Games in Indonesia.

Monika was excluded from the Indian team for the Asian Games in Indonesia by the AFI selection committee after she registered a timing of 4:41.06 at the confirmatory trial held in Bhutan on August 15.

She then filed a petition before the Delhi High Court, challenging her exclusion from the 1500m event of the Asian Games.

Before the High Court, the AFI had proposed that it can conduct a re-trial for the athlete if needed. The Court agreed that the athlete could undergo a fresh trial and achieve the qualification mark of 4:16.88 if she has to go to Jakarta.

As the timing registered by the athlete was well below the AFI qualification mark for Asian Games, she will not be permitted join the Indian team in Jakarta.

The athletics competitions in the Asian Games will begin from Saturday.