Javelin takes center stage

The one-day competition, to be held at the Kalinga Stadium, will see 160 athletes slugging it out for honours in 19 events

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

The men's javelin event is set to be the top draw when the country hosts its maiden World Athletics Continental Tour bronze level competition in Bhubaneswar August 10 with two Indians and as many Sri Lankans expected to vie for top honours.

Though two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is missing from the competition, Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh will spearhead India’s challenge while Sri Lankans Sumeda Ranasinghe and Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage will also fancy their chances.

‘The total prize fund of the one-day event is $25,000.

Ranasinghe has already secured a direct spot in World Athletics Championships in September while Pathirage, Yadav and Singh are likely to make the showpiece through world ranking quota.

‘The 34-year-old Ranasinghe has the top season's best with his 85.78m effort in March, while Pathirage, who won bronze in the NC Classic last month, has 85.14m for his best of the year.

Meanwhile, Yadav, the Asian Championships silver winner, has 85.16m as his season's best while Singh's top mark of the year is 82.57m. Rohit Yadav and Vikrant Malik are the other Indians in the fray, and both have 80m-plus personal best throws.