The 2017 and 2019 Asian 1500m champion PU Chitra feels that the Tokyo entry standard for 1500m is very tough and now plans to work on the 800m seriously for a Tokyo ticket. Her coach JS Bhatia believes that she could improve by a big margin in the longer race if she fulfills her potential.

Star Indian sprinter Dutee Chand admitted, on Tuesday, that the reason she performed poorly at the World Championships was that she couldn’t adapt well to the heat in Doha. However, she credited her record-breaking performance at the national level to her preparations for the world event. 

Steeplechaser Avinash Sable will target the Olympics qualification mark first as a medal is almost out of sight when he runs in the World Athletics Final. He bettered his own national record clocking in at 8 minutes 25.23 seconds in the first round heat and qualified for the finals dramatically.

India’s Asian Games gold medallist duo of shot-putter Tejinder Pal Singh Toor and 1500m runner Jinson Johnson crashed out of the World Athletics Championships in Doha on Thursday. Tejinder registered a season-best throw in men's shot put, however, he couldn't clear the qualification mark.