Ranchi to host 2017 Asian meet

The 22nd Asian athletics championship will be held in India after a gap of four years. The Birsa Munda Stadium at Ranchi will host the event from July 1 to 4, 2017. Recently, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials visited the venue before finalising it. “There are minor repair works in the long jump take-off area, and they will be done shortly. We are using a venue which was used for shooting during the 2011

National Games as a warm-up area for discus, javelin and hammer throw,” C.K. Valson, Secretary, AFI, told The Hindu here on Monday. The Jharkhand government has come forward to support the event which will be staged in India for the third time, the early editions in New Delhi (1989) and Pune (2013).

Nearly 800 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part. The winners of the Asian meet will get a direct berth for the World championship in London from August 4 to 13. — Special Correspondent