May 21, 2014 11:22 AM

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Top athletes abroad; AFI cancels Indian Grand Prix

Unavailability of top athletes has forced Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to cancel the Indian Grand Prix series, proposed to held in Patiala later this month.The AFI had proposed to hold at least two legs of the Indian Grand Prix in Patiala later this month so that the athletes can have more competitions ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.But it is now learnt that the events will not be held due lack of top stars. The Glasgow Games are slated to begin on the 23rd of July.A top AFI official told PTI today that the likes of discus throwers Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil and shot putter Om Prakash Karhana have left the country for foreign training.Coach Nikolai Snesarev does not want long and middle distance runners training under him to participate. Hence, the official said that the AFI has decided not to hold the Indian Grand Prix. This means most of the athletes will have just one meet before the Commonwealth Games. It will be the National Inter-State Championships in Lucknow from June 5 to 8. The event will also be the selection trials for the CWG. The Indian athletes were also left with lesser number of competitions after the Asian Athletics Association decided toscrap the Asian Grand Prix this year.

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