India’s masters nationals a ‘qualifying meet’ for Asian regionals?

We have a billion reasons to fix masters track in India.

Wasn’t this resolved? I’ve reported about the insane dueling federations of India. But a report in The Times of India labels the national masters championships Feb. 24 “the selection trials for the 18th Asian Masters Athletics Championships.” Sigh. We’re a sport where everyone can run, right? (It’s in the WMA Constitution.) Does that mean pay-to-play politics are still alive? In 2010, WMA President Stan Perkins dodged my questions. In his 2013 report to the Porto Alegre General Assembly, Stan wrote: “The resignation of long serving (Asian WMA) Secretary Hari Chandra has left some problems for the region which is still to appoint a permanent replacement.” I’d say. Stan never responded to my candidates questionnaire, which included an item on India. Gotta write him again.

The WMA Constitution (near the end) says:

All masters shall be eligible to compete in any masters athletics competition. No master shall be refused entry on ground of race, religion, politics, nationality or place of residence.

Anyhoo, here’s the article that ticked me off:

COIMBATORE: Around 3,500 athletes, including 1,500 women from 26 states, will participate in the 35th National Masters Athletic Championship to be held from February 24.

The four-day championship will also be the selection trials for the 18th Asian Masters Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in Kitakarni, Iwate, Japan from September 19, David Premnath, Secretary General, Masters Athletics Federation of India, told reporters here.

There will be 13 age categories ranging from 35-39 group to the 90 and above group for both men and women, David said.

There would be 529 events–272 for men and 257 for women and track events would be the 5 KM walk, hurdles, middle distance events, long distance events, the sprint and the steeple chase. The field events would include the javelin, shot put hammer throw, discus, high jump, long jump, triple jump and the pole vault.

Stating that the meet would witness the participation of International masters like Reeth Abraham from Karnataka (50+), Ajmer Singh from Punjab (75+), C L Saighal (85+) and P L Sharma (80+) (both Delhi), he said about 300 athletes had participated in the Asian Masters held in Brazil last year.

More than 150 Asian medallists would also be seen in action at the meet, which has come to Tamil Nadu after 15 years, W I Dawaram, President, Tamil Nadu Masters Athletic Association, said