Maharashtra firm favourites to win athletic championship

Pune, Sep 15 (UNI) Hosts Maharashtra start firm favourites to retain the overall team title in the boys and girls section in the west zone junior athletic championship which gets underway at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City Mahalunge-Balewadi near here from September 17 to 19.

The three day meet being held under the baton of the Pune International Marathon trust (PIMT) has attracted 500 athletes from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh and Goa, said Maharashtra Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) secretary general Pralhad Sawant. Gujarat, however are returning after a three year gap to stake their claims. he added Going by track record, it would not be a cake walk for the hosts as they face stiff competition from their arch rivals Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra's chances has risen after a large number of their juniors have trained at two and half month coaching camp at NIS Patiala recently. While their boys will be gunning for their hatrick having won the team title for the past two years, their girls will aim to retain the title for the second year in a row.

Giving the details through a press note circulated here today, Mr Sawant said that the championship assumes importance as it would serve as the barometer to select the west zone squad to take part in the inter-zonal athletic championship slated to be held in Lucknow from October 11 to 13.

A six-member selection panel comprising Ms Anita Rodriques (Goa), Mr Premichand Jadam, (Rajasthan), Mumtaz Khan ( MP), Ashish (Patel) Guj) Mr Radha Krishna Pillai (Chhisgarh) and Mr Pralhad Sawant (Mah) has been formed to finalise the West Zone squad to take part in the inter-zonal athletic championship in Lucknow.

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