All eyes on Inderjeet, Lalita, Tintu in National Open Athletics

KOLKATA: India's top athletes, including the Olympics-bound trio of Inderjeet Singh, Lalita Babar and Tintu Luka, will vie for honours when the 55th National Open Athletics Championship gets underway at SAI Complex here tomorrow.

The showpiece meet of the Indian athletics calendar will be a big opportunity for the top athletes not only to achieve Olympics mark but also to make their respective states and departments proud.

While all eyes would be on the Rio-bound trio, the marquee meet will also mark an emotional return to action for sprinter Dutee Chand after successfully fighting off gender controversy.

The sprinter from Odisha was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July to compete in national and international events after challenging world body of the sport IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism.

The 19-year-old, who had bagged the 100m and 200m gold in the National Open in Ranchi two years ago, missed out on the last edition in Delhi with the ban as she would look for a fresh start overcoming the gender controversy.

With country's top athletes in their roster, heavyweights Railways and Services once again expected to dominate the show, even as states like Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab will look to have their share of medals.

The four-day event, which will have competitions in 44 events in men's and women's sections, will see more than 900 athletes from across 28 states and eight Boards in actions.

Railways also boast of the duo of Lalita and Tintu who have already made the cut for next year's Rio Olympics.