Sheena in Indian team for international meets

KOCHI: Sheena NV of Kerala who emerged champion in women’s triple jump event at Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala early this month has been named in the Indian athletics team for two international meets.
Long jumper Neena V who suffered shock defeat at the hands of Nayana James in the same meet, however, has been included. Sprinter Merlin K Joseph is the other Kerala athlete to figure in the 17-member team.
Sachin Roby of Services who will race in men’s 400m race also hails from Kerala and is in the squad for the meets to be held in Bishkek and Almaty next week.
The Indians will compete in the 19th International Competition Tatyana Kolapkova in Bichkek, Kyrgystan on June 17 and 18 and in the 26th International Meeting G Kosnana Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan on June 24 and 25. Arokia Raj, Ankit Sharma, Arpinder Singh are among the men’s sqaud while Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda, MR Poovamma are among other women’s squad.
All 17 athletes and two coaches will head for Bishkek while only 12 athletes and two coaches will compete in Almaty and have been given all clear by the government.
Meanwhile PT USha, Bibu Mathew, dope-tainted Mohammed Kunhi are the among the coaching staff but it seems only jumps coach Bibu might get the nod.
Kunhi, who coaches 400m runners, was recently suspended by the Athletics Federation of India over drug enhanced tablets meldonium tablets found from the personal belongings of Jithin Paul, the 400m and 400m hurdles champion, by NADA team recently. Both Kunhi and Jithin were roommates at the Patiala national camp.