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Usha, Gulab Chand in World Cup squad

The Asian Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA) has picked five Indians to form part of the Asian squad for the World Cup athletics meet, to be held in Johannesburg from September 9 to 11.

The 4X100 metre women's relay team, which took gold at the recent Asian championships at Fukuoka (albeit by default, when the first placed Chinese team was disqualified for an illegal baton change), comprising P. T. Usha, Rachita Mistry, E. B. Shyla and Saraswati Dey, are four of the chosen. The other is Gulab Chand, silver winner in the 5000m.

Further, Usha is also expected to figure in the Asian 4x400m relay team, having placed third in the individual event at Fukuoka.

Gulab Chand won his place by default, with 5000m Asian champion Toshinari Takaoka of Japan expressing his inability to attend the world meet.

Prestigious though it is, the AAFI is none too happy since the five Indian stars will go to Johannesburg just prior to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, leading to the possiblity of overstrain.

However, despite the AAFI's reservations, it is expected that the AAAA's wish that Indian athletes form part of the Asian squad will prevail. Besides, all five Indian athletes have expressed a desire to take part in the prestigious global event.