Federation Cup | Neeraj’s return will be the biggest highlight

World and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s return to a domestic event after his historic performance in the Tokyo Games three years ago will be the biggest highlight of the National Federation athletics meet, starting at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday. Besides Asian Games gold medallist Neeraj, silver medallist and local favourite Kishore Jena will be another big attraction as fans will get a chance to see both of them in action after watching them on television during their season-opening performances in the Doha Diamond League. Apart from the two Olympic qualified throwers, Asian Games gold medallist shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, triple jumpers Praveen Chitravel, who came close to qualifying for the Olympics in the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru, Abdulla Aboobacker, and the 4x400m relay team members, including Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal, Dandi Jyothika Sri and Subha Venkatesan, will be some of the well known athletes competing here. Missing out However, several top names, including steeplechaser Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, quarter-milers National record holder Muhammad Anas, Arokia Rajeev, Rajesh Ramesh and Noah Nirmal Tom, long jumper Ancy Sojan, 800m Asian Games medallist Harmilan Bains, will miss the event due to various reasons.