Nagpur: National record holding athletes including shot putter Abha Khatau and hurdler Tejas Sirse will be seen in action during the 72nd Maharashtra State Senior Athletics Championship going to be held in Nagpur from June 1-3.
Nagpur District Athletics Association and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University in a joint venture will be organising the championship after a long wait of 45 years at RTMNU’s synthetic track in Ravi Nagar.
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Wed 11 Dec. 2024
Around 1000 athletes from 30 districts, including a couple of Paris Olympics aspirants, and nine international medallists will set Nagpur University’s synthetic track on fire from Saturday. After a long 45-year gap, Nagpur will play host to the Maharashtra State Senior Athletics Championship at the Ravi Nagar track.
A total of 36 events will be conducted in the three-day championship for men and women, where Maharashtra’s best track and field athletes will be vying for 124 medals till the concluding day on June 3. Around 41 national medallists and 16 athletes who have represented India in various international competitions will be in attendance during the 72nd edition of Maharashtra’s top track and field event.
“According to entries received, 685 male and 325 female players have confirmed their participation till date, informed Sanjay Bhende, President of the Organising Committee during a press conference. Nagpur will have a huge representation in the State meet. “Talking about the Nagpur team who are the hosts, a total of 67 players will be in action during the mega event. In this a 40-member men’s team will be led by Adarsh Bhure (100m) while Prajkta Godbole (steeplechase) will lead the 27-member women’s side. Nagpur District Athletics Association is expecting good performance from its players. Apart from the two captains, the other local stars who have accepted the challenge and can clinch medal for city are Neha Dhabale, Riya Dohatare, Nayan Sarde and Sadab Pathan,” said Secretary of Nagpur District Athletics Association (NDAA) Dr Sharad Suryawanshi.
The event also serves as selection trials for national meets. “The tournament which is supported by Dande Hospital, Maitree Pariwar Sanstha and Krida Bharati will be inaugurated at the hands of Olympian Anand Menzies at 9 am on June 1. Pro Vice Chancellor of RTMNU Dr Sanjay Dudhe will also be present during the opening ceremony. Maharashtra squad for senior inter-state tournament which is scheduled to take place in Panchkula (Haryana) from June 26 to 30 will be selected from here,” Suryawanshi added.
Former Director of Sports RTMNU Dr Dhananjay Welukar informed in detail about varsity’s synthetic track. “This will be the first major event on this track. The synthetic track has been constructed recently and has passed all quality tests in the small events that have been hosted on it,” he said proudly.
Dr Pinak Dande of Dande Hospital was of the opinion that medical care is very important in these ‘nautapa’ days. “With summer at its peak and in the midst of ‘nautapa’, we have planned a few major things including a cool medical room, OPD and quick ambulance service in case of emergency,” Dr Dande said. NDAA President Gurudeo Nagrale, Dr Sanjay Chaudhary, Umesh Naidu, Ramchandra Wani, Archana Kottewar, coaches, managers and many players of Nagpur teams were present during the press conference.
