According to an AFI release here on Thursday, the Patiala competition will be held in 15 events, including seven in the women’s group. The season opener will give top athletes a chance to gauge their preparedness for the tough season ahead.

The main focus, however, will be on 400m in both men and women’s sections. Any depth in the field will make the AFI’s task easier as it will strengthen the national relay squad that has not achieved the qualification mark for Beijing. The women’s 4x400m relay team is touted to be the AFI strong medal prospect in the Summer Games.

Apart from 400m, emphasis will also be laid on disciplines like 800m, 1500m and 5,000m. But the men’s 50km walk is a surprise inclusion in the programme. Top athletes in this event, including Babubhai Panocha who holds the 20km walk record, are currently training in Bangalore. Indications are that the AFI is hoping to get good results in the event. Babubhai, the main contender for the title, is also expected to achieve at least the B qualification mark of 4:07:00.

Some of the country’s top athletes, including 400m runners are currently training in Oman. But Bangalore has been the base of country’s top middle and long distance athletes for the past two years.

Prior to the Patiala meet, the AFI will be sending a strong contingent for the Asian Indoor in Doha. The meet is slated for between February 14 and 16.

So far, only three Indian athletes—Anju Bobby George (long jump), Vikas Gowda (discus) and Renjith Maheshwary (triple jump)—have booked their passage for Beijing.

Among the athletes who came close to achieving the mark were two-lap runner Sajeesh Joseph, whose season best was 1:47.42 while the B qualification mark is 1:47.

Another middle distance runner C Hamza had given a good account of himself in 2007. Hamza, winner of a bronze medal in the World Military Games in Hyderabad, had clocked season’s best of 3:39.9. He, too, is expected to board the flight to Beijing if he achieves the B norm of 3:39 in 1500m.

Events at Patiala

Men: 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 50km walk, shot put, triple jump, high jump.

Women: 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5,000m, long jump, high jump, high jump, discus.