India to host two legs of Asian Grand Prix and Throws Meet this year

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) India will host two legs of Asian Grand Prix and an International Throws Championship in the country this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced here today.

The decision was announced by AFI secretary Lalit Bhanot at the Annual General Meeting of the federation.

The first leg of the international event named ''Asian Grand Prix-II'' will be held at Guwahati from June 23, whereas the second leg named ''Asian Grand Prix-III'' will kick start at Pune from June 27, followed by the International Throws Championships at New Delhi from September 29.

In the build up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Federation also shortlisted the various disciplines and approved a 12-months overseas training schedule - first at South Africa and then at Poland - for the athletes.

Meanwhile, acting on the footsteps of other federations on the issue of the use of performance enhancement drugs in sports, the AFI has also decided make dope test mandatory for all athletes participating at different national levels meets, starting from school games, All India Universities Athletics Meet to Board Meets.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr Umrao Singh, acting president of AFI and was also attended by Mr Suresh Kalmadi, president Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Life president of the AFI among others.

UNI