M P Jabir qualifes for Tokyo Olympics in 400 m hurdles
Kochi, Jul 1: Ace athlete of the Indian Navy, MP Jabir, has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 400m hurdles after he clocked 49.78s to win gold at the recently concluded Inter-State Athletics Championships in Patiala, a Defence spokesman said here on Thursday.
Jabir qualified through the World ranking quota where there are 14 spots available, the spokesman said.
The 25-year-old Naval sailor hails from Malappuram, Kerala. He is currently ranked 34th in the World Athletics' Road to Olympics rankings where 40 athletes qualify.
When he competes in the Tokyo Olympics, Jabir would be the first Indian male athlete to participate in the 400m hurdles in Olympics, he said.
P T Usha, the legendary athlete from Kerala, competed in the 400-metre hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics.That makes Jabir the second from the state to compete in the same event in the Olympics.
Jabir, POCOM(Tel), has participated in many National and International Athletic championships representing the Indian Navy and the Services earning many laurels.
The spokesman said the athlete is in the final stages of preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Inter-State Meet was the last Olympic qualification event for the Tokyo Games.
In the absence of major tournaments due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jabir's last competitive race was in 2019.
However, with regular practice and support from the Naval Training team, Jabir was able to continue his training sessions avoiding any injuries and begin preparations for the Olympics.
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Two held for 'firing' at BJP leader's house in Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): A day before the counting of votes for the West Bengal assembly elections, two persons were arrested on Sunday for allegedly being involved in a firing incident outside the residence of a BJP leader in North 24 Parganas district, police said.
BJP leader Kundan Singh lodged a police complaint, alleging that a few gunmen fired at his house in the Noapara constituency around Saturday midnight.
Based on the CCTV footage, the two accused were apprehended, a senior officer said.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh, in a post on social media, claimed that around 12.05 am, two armed miscreants arrived on a motorcycle at the residence of Kundan Singh, a BJP functionary and secretary of the Barrackpore organisational district, with an "intent to kill him".
According to the BJP leader, the accused are residents of Garulia and are known criminals.
Their names as offenders had been submitted to the Election Commission, he said.
The police officer did not specify whether the two arrested persons were the same individuals named by Arjun Singh.
According to the complaint, one round of firing took place outside Kundan Singh's house, triggering panic in the area.
The BJP candidate also questioned the role of the police, claiming that one of the accused had been detained by the police on the polling day but was later released in the evening.
The Noapara assembly seat went to the polls on April 29.
Several BJP leaders alleged that attempts were being made to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the counting and weaken the organisation of the opposition parties.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections was held on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately to ensure peaceful counting.
TMC candidate Somnath Shyam rubbished Arjun Singh’s allegation, claiming that the BJP nominee had orchestrated the firing incident to divert attention from imminent defeat.
“Arjun Singh knows all the gangsters in the Barrackpore belt. Everyone knows about his links with the underworld. Let the police investigate the incident,” Shyam said.
