Speaking to the media persons on the last day of the 24th Junior National Athletic Championship at the Chamundi Vihar stadium here on Sunday, Dr. Lalit K. Bhanot said: "We are eying about eight to 10 medals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. It was an encouraging performance by our future stars at Pune and also here despite it being held on a non-synthetic turf."

"About 200 athletes will be intensively trained. A good mixture of experience and youth will be sent for exposure to places like Cyprus, South Africa and some other European countries," he added.

Eight events wherein the Indian athletes are expected to win medals are the Men's 4x400m relay, shot put, discuss, javelin and triple jump, and the women's 4x400m relay, discus and heptathlon.

"As regards the over-age issue and the doping menace, the AFI is taking stringent action against the offenders and adequate measures will be taken to eradicate it in due time," Mr. Bhanot added.

The AFI also released the calendar of events for 2009.

The calendar: May 1: World Athletics Day (Bangalore); May 3: Indian GP 1 (Kochi); May 8: Indian GP-II (Madurai); May 14: Indian GP III (Chennai); May 29-31: National Youth Championships (Madurai); June 7: Indian GP IV (Jamshedpur); June 13: Indian GP V (Ranchi); June 14-15: 3rd North East Zone junior championship (Guwahati); June 24-27: Fed. Cup for seniors (Chennai); July 24-26: Federation Cup for juniors (Lucknow).

August 1-3: NZ juniors (Dehra Dun); August 6-8: WZ juniors (Hopal); August 12-14: SZ Juniors (Kochi); August 16-18: EZ juniors (Bhubaneshwar); Sept 1-3: National Inter-Zone (Chandigarh).

Sept. 10-11: National throws meet (Delhi); Sept. 12-13: National Sprint meet (Mumbai); Sept. 15-16: National Endurance meet (Jamshedpur).

October 6-9: Open Nationals (Bhopal); October 21-24: Inter state for seniors (Ranchi); October 29-31: National Inter-district (Haridwar); November 20-24: 25th Junior Nationals (Warangal); January 31, 2010: National Cross Country (Delhi).

Mr. G.T. Devegowda, Chairman, Karnataka Hosing Board who is also the Chairman, Organising Committee, who addressed the mediapersons on Saturday, said that Mysore after the successful conduct of the Dasara Games would now be hosting another National sporting event.

It is for the first time that Mysore will host the Junior National athletics and the organisers have taken all the steps to conduct the same in a successful manner.

Explaining the details of the event, Sathyanarayana, Hon. Secretary, KAA, said that the event would see athletes from 26 States taking part. Events would be held for boys and girls under-20 years, 18, 16 and 14 years. Around 2,600 athletes and officials from all over the country were expected to take part.

This meet would be a prelude for selecting the Indian junior team and also the team for the Commonwealth Games to be held at Delhi in 2010. Top athletes who have won medals in the Youth Commonwealth Games being held in Pune were expected to take part. Athletes like, Poovamma, Aishwarya, Rebacca Jose, Nirupama Sundarraj from Karnataka would be amongst them.

Live telecast
He also said that the event would be telecast live by the Doordarshan. The Government of India had granted Rs. 8 lakh and the organisers asked the State Government for Rs.15 lakh. Discussion was on with the sponsors for the event (Atlas and BSNL) and it would be finalised shortly.

The two-member Dope Test team from WADA Delhi would be present at the meet and would conduct random dope tests. The age verification team from the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) would also be present to check the correctness of the age of the participants. Photo finish camera would also be used during the championship.

Sathyanarayana said that as the funds had been released for converting the mud track to synthetic track at the Chamundivihar Stadium by the Karnataka Government, and the tendering process was on, the infrastructure would be developed in the days to come as the process and erecting the synthetic turf needed sufficient time.

MSH to meet BMS
Mysore Sports Hostel women downed BMS 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 to set up a final against champion Karnataka State Police in the State Association Cup volleyball championship at the Basavanagudi Youth Club court here.

In the men's section, MEG proved too good for South Western Railway, Hubli, in a league encounter. MEG won 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 while in another late night league encounter KSP edged past Jindal Steel Works (JSW) 25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-7.

In the semifinals, KSP takes on Postal while MEG will lock horns with JSW.

It will be inaugurated at the race course stadium by the Indian Olympic Association President and MP Suresh Kalmadi.

Athletes who were participating in events in Ukraine, the US and England would return in batches to participate in the meet, organisers said.

As many as 150 technical experts and coaches of the various athletic fields had already arrived.

Seven athletes, including Mandeep Kaur and Manjeet Kaur had already qualified for the Olympics.

According to W.I. Davaram, Tamil Nadu Athletic Association President, modern equipment had been brought to judge the photo-finish competitions.

The race course and facilities had been upgraded to international level, he said.

One of the richest half-marathon's in prize money, the event attracted the top ranking stars of the world. Philip Rugut (Kenya) won the first place and $20,000 while Irina Timofeyeva (Russia) won the first place in women's category and $15,000.

With the route running through an eminently picturesque Delhi, with historical and modern landmarks along the Half Marathon route it was a proud moment for India to be showcased as a premier half-marathon destination as the half-marathon was beamed to televisions across countries world-wide.

The results:

Men: 1. Philip Rugut (Ken) 1:01:55, 2. Duncan Kibet (Ken) 1:02:30, 3. Martin Sulle (Tan) 1:02:42, 4. Wilberforce Talel (Ken) 1:02:45, 5. Moses Kigen (Ken) 1:03:40, 6. Julius Sugut (Ken) 1:03:41, 7. Paul Kirui (Ken) 1:04:22, 8. Desse Dembelach (Eth) 1:04:24.

Women: 1. Irina Timofeyeva (Rus) 1:10: 35, 2. Rita Jeptoo (Ken) 1:10: 41, 3. Helen Kimutai (Ken) 1:10: 43, 4. Inga Abitova (Rus) 1:11: 24, 5. Pamela Chepchumba (Ken) 1:11.37: 6. Edith Masai (Ken) 1:11:49, 7. Sally Barsosio (Ken) 1:12:58, 8. Mulu Seboka (Eth) 1:13:54.

The Indian top performers were Jaganath Lakde (1:07.17) at 16th position, Deep Chand (1:07.25) at 17th, and KC Ramu (1:07.34) at 18th position. In the women category the top performers were H Sangini Devi (1:23.18) at 18th, Rina Das (1:23.29) at 19th, and Geeta Rani (1:25.09) at the 21st position.

In addition to the half marathon, a Delhi Run and Senior Run were also held. Over 25,000 enthusisastic runners participated bringing the message of sports and fitness to the fore. The strong financial support of corporate sponsors was an encouraging sign for the growth of Indian sports.

The event will certainly have the who’s who of international athletics, with over 500 participants from 80 countries, and top officials including IAAF chief Lamine Diack. Unlike the London or Boston open marathons, which are private in nature, the number of participants in the IAAF event from each country will be limited. There’s prize money for the first six individuals in each category (men and women), including $30,000 for the winner.

It’s only a one-day show, yet since it’s an IAAF event, there is little scope for any compromise. So the planning is in minute detail:

• The agencies involved span the gamut of officialdom, including the Athletics Federation of India, the entire Delhi government (from health to sanitary to Public Works Department to traffic), the Union ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Health and their departments like the Airports Authority of India, DGCA and Customs and tourism
• Top-class live coverage (ESPN-Star and DD Sports have the rights) with the feeds watched in several countries around the world.
• Three helicopters will follow the 21.0975-km route.
• Seiko and track event management experts Winning Time will be coming in with tonnes of material; the latter are in charge of fixing the chips in marathoners’ shoes to measure the minutest details of time.
• Special motorbikes, which can drive at very slow speeds, to track the runners.
• Pothole-free roads (though this may require more than a mere mortal endeavour.)
• Healthcare is under the charge of Dr Naresh Trehan.
• Visas on arrival for participants.