Indian name 17 lifters for AAG

The Indian Weightlifting Federation named a 15-member squad that would carry the host country's medal hopes at the upcoming Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.

The eight-member men's team and seven-member women's squad selected for the Games will strive to grab top honours in the competition.

According to sources in the Federation, the members of the men's squad include V Srinivasa Rao (56 kg; SSCB), Chandandeep Singh (62 kg; Police), C P R Sudheer Kumar (69 kg; SSCB), Satish Rai (77 kg; Bank Sports Board), Mohammed Zakir (85 kg; SSCB), G Sandeep (94 kg; Karnataka), Gurminder Singh (105 kg; Police) and Dalvir Singh (105 kg plus; Police).

But conspicuous by their absence are T Muthu, Vicky Bhatta and Sendhil Kumar.

Sources said the women's team comprises A Sandhya Rani (48 kg; Karnataka), Sonia Chanu (53 kg; Punjab), Prasmita Mangraj (58 kg; Orissa), P Haritha (63 kg; Andhra), Nansita Devi (69 kg; Manipur), Sumati Devi (75 kg; Manipur) and Geeta Rani (75 kg plus; Punjab).

While the men's team has been practising at the Sports Authority of India, South Centre in Bangalore, under Chief Coach Jaswant Singh and coach Ramesh Malhotra, the women are working out in Patiala under Chief Coach B S Sandhu.

China, Taipei, Korea and Iran are some of the countries taking part in the mega event.