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The Asian Athletics Championships 2023 will kick off on Wednesday (July 12) in Bangkok, Thailand. A 54-member Indian team will participate in the continental competition in the South-East Asian nation between July 12 and 16.

While the likes of Neeraj Chopra, Jesvin Aldrin, and Avinash Sable are missing the 24th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships, names like Murali Sreeshankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Jyothi Yarraji and others are set to headline the competition for India.

Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion who is the best among the Asians this season, is not competing as he prepares for the Budapest World Championships in August.

As the continental showpiece is being held a month before the World Athletics Championships (August 19-27) in Budapest, a number of stars are set to skip the event as they want to focus on the global meet.

India is one of the nine teams that have participated in all the editions of the Asian Championships since its beginning in the Philippines in 1973. Asian Athletics Championships 2023: This Hindu God is the official mascot of competition in Thailand

Doping hits Indian Athletics, again

The build-up for the tournament was far from ideal for India with pull-outs and dope flunks but shot putter Toor and long jumper Sreeshankar will be looking to make an impact.

Shot putter Karanveer Singh failed an out-of-competition dope test. Sprinter Anjali Devi, who won the women's 400m gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar last month with an impressive time of 51.48 seconds in her first race after an injury lay-off of more than three years, was also caught for doping.

A top official of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has confirmed Anjali Devi's dope flunk. "Yes, it's correct," said the official, who is currently in Bangkok told PTI.

National record holder quarter-miler Muhammed Anas Yahiya was also left out under mysterious circumstances though he was in the Indian team named on June 22. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has not given an official explanation for his dropping.

Indians were also dealt with a blow after the trio of world season leader long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, triple jumper Praveen Chitravel - Asia's best this year - and medal prospect javelin thrower Rohit Yadav pulled out of the continental showpiece due to their respective injuries.

In Aldrin's absence, Sreeshankar, the world number two this season with his 8.81m effort last month, will be the top contender for the men's long jump gold. He is not short on confidence after finishing third in the Paris leg of the prestigious Diamond League last month.

In men's shot put, Asian record holder and defending champion Toor is again the hot favourite to win gold after his 21.77m throw in the National Inter-State Championships last month. At the 2019 edition of the championships in Doha, Toor had won gold with a throw of 20.22m.

Despite the pulling out of the Yadav due to an elbow injury, India can still expect at least a medal in men's javelin throw from DP Manu who is the best in the field with his 84.33m effort earlier this year.

Abdulla Aboobacker will shoulder the responsibility of fetching at least a medal for India in the men's triple jump, while Tejaswin Shankar, who will be in action on the opening day on Wednesday, will aim for his maiden international podium finish in the decathlon.

Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani medal contenders among women

Among women, India has a chance to win gold in the 100m hurdles and long jump. National record holder 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji will make her continental debut and she is the Asian leader this season with a best of 12.84 seconds. She has clocked sub-13 seconds a couple of times this season and she is a gold medal contender. She will also compete in the 200m event.

India can look for two medals in women's long jump through season leader Shaili Singh (SB: 6.76m) and Ancy Sojan (SB:6.56m). Sojan had beaten Shaili in the National Inter-State last month.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist javelin thrower Annu Rani, who won a silver in the last edition, heptathlete Swapna Barman and 3000m steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary also have good chances of winning medals. National record holder Rani could open India's medal account as the final of the women's javelin throw is scheduled on July 12.

In the 2019 edition, India had won 16 medals (2 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze) to finish fifth in the medal tally. Some of the Indians will also hope to book their 2024 Paris Olympics berth as the qualifying period for most of the events has begun on July 1.

Asian Athletics Championships 2023 (only finals) Timings in IST, Live Streaming Info

The Asian Athletics Championships 2023 live streaming will be available on the Asian Athletics2023 YouTube channel. There will be no live telecast of the event on any TV channel in India.

Asian Athletics Championships 2023 Finals Timings on July 12

15:30 Women's javelin throw final

16:10 Women's 1500m final

16:15 Women's triple jump final

17:05 Women's 4x100m relay final

17:15 Men's 4x100m relay final

17:55 Men's 10000m final

Asian Athletics in Thailand July 13 Finals

9:30 Men's hammer throw final

15:00 Men's triple jump final

15:10 Women's high jump final

16:00 Women's hammer throw final

16:20 Women's 100m hurdles final

16:30 Men's 400m final

16:35 Women's 400m final

16:45 Men's 1500m final

17:05 Women's 10000m final

18:10 Men's decathlon 1500m final

Asian Athletics Championships July 14 schedule

14:30 Men's shot put final

14:40 Women's pole vault final

15:05 Men's high jump final

15:15 Women's discus throw final

15:30 Men's 3000m steeplechase final

15:35 Women's long jump final

15:45 Women's 3000m steeplechase final

17:00 Men's 110m hurdles final

17:50 Women's 100m final

18:00 Men's 100m final

Asian Athletics Finals July 15

16:10 Men's long jump final

16:30 Women's 400m hurdles final

16:40 Men's 400m hurdles final

17:30 Men's discus throw final

18:40 Mixed 4x400m relay final

18:55 Women's heptathlon 800m final

Asian Athletics finals schedule on July 16

04:30 Women's 20km race walk final

04:30 Men's 20km race walk final

13:30 Men's pole vault final

13:40 Women's shot put final

13:45 Men's 800m final

13:50 Men's javelin throw final

13:55 Women's 800m final

14:05 Women's 5000m final

14:45 Men's 5000m final

15:15 Women's 200m final

15:40 Men's 200m final

16:35 Women's 4x400m relay final

17:05 Men's 4x400m relay final