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.