May 9, 2018 by admin

Punia gets into TOPS, Narang out

New Delhi, Seema Punia and five other medallists from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games were inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) even as decorated shooter Gagan Narang was excluded here on Wednesday. Narang was among the 12 athletes who have been dropped from the scheme due to poor performance and fitness issues.
The 34-year-old Punia has been one of India’s most distinguished track and field stars. A three-time Olympian, she has won laurels for the country at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games — she won gold at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and has won three silver and a bronze from four Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, Narang failed to make an impression at Gold Coast, and returned without a medal from the multi-sport event for the first time in his career. He has to his credit eight gold medals, a silver and a bronze from the Commonwealth Games.