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AFI urges IAAF to consider P U Chitra's entry after government steps in

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Saturday requested the world body (IAAF) to consider P U Chitra's participation in the upcoming World Championships after Sports Minister Vijay Goel asked the national federation to honour the Kerala High Court directive.

The AFI said it had written to the IAAF and the ball is now in the international federation's court.
"We have formally written to IAAF to consider P U Chitra's entry as an Indian participation in women's 1500m race. It is now up to IAAF to accept the request or not," AFI secretary C K Valson said.
AFI's move came after Sports Minister Goel had earlier in the day advised the national federation to honour the Kerala High Court directive on Chitra to ensure her participation in the world meet.
The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, directed the central government to ensure participation of Chitra in the World Athletics Championships in London next month.
"Shri Goel talked to AFI President Shri Adille Sumariwalla on the issue and advised him not to contest the directive given by the Kerala High Court as P U Chitra is otherwise a wild card entry for the World Championship," the sports ministry said in a statement.
Chitra, who recently won a gold medal in the women's 1500m event in the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar, filed the writ petition after she was excluded from the Indian squad by the federation.
In her plea, Chitra said her gold medal performance at the Asian Athletics Championships made her an automatic pick for the World Championships.

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