Prachi Godbole and Ajit Bhende will lead the Nagpur District squad in the Maharashtra State Cross Country Championship slated to be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021.
The annual meet will be organized by the Pune District Athletics Association under the auspices of Maharashtra State Athletics Association at the Lok Seva Sanstha Netaji Subhashchandra Boys Military School, Fulgaon, Tehsil Haveli, near Pune.
The Nagpur District Athletics Association secretary Dr Sharad Suryawanshi announced the Nagpur district squad on Friday for the Sunday’s meet after the completion of the district trial meet held here a couple of days ago.
Track Star Athletics Club’s Prachi Godbole will lead the women’s team, while Ajit Bhende of Jai Athletics Club will spearhead the men’s side. Gaurav Chavhan will accompany the team as manager.
Nagpur women’s team is front runner to bag the overall championship this year, said Dr Sharad Suryawanshi.
“We have a strong team this year. Besides Prachi Godbole, who is the All India Inter-University Cross Country winner, we also have international runners Prajakta Godbole and and Nikita Raut. If they do well, Nagpur district can win general championship. In the individual events too, these three Nagpur athletes will vie for the top honours,†said Suryawanshi.
In the Under-20 age group, talented city athlete Riya Dohtare can excel and bring laurels to the region.
Nagpur District Squad
Men’s 10-km: Ajit Bhende (captain), Leelaram Bawane, Rushikesh Wadkar (all Jai Athletics Club, Nagpur), Sourav Tiwari, Rajan Yadav (both Track Star Athletics Club, Nagpur), Shailesh Gore (Black Birt Flyers, Nagpur).
Women’s 10-km: Prachi Godbole (captain), Nikita Raut, Pranali Borekar (all Track Star Athletics Club, Nagpur), Prajakta Godbole, Tejaswini Lambkane (both Jai Athletics Club, Nagpur), Mrunali Saraf (Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education, Nagpur).
Under-20 boys: Shadab Pathan (Track Star Athletics Club, Nagpur), Manish Pathe, Sunny Fusate (Jai Athletics Club, Nagpur), Dipak Kumar Sonwani (Vidyarthi Yuwak Krida Mandal, Nagpur), Nishal Rodge (Nav Maharashtra Krida Mandal, Nagpur), Rahul Chavhan (360 Degree Athletics Club, Nagpur).
Under-20 girls: Riya Dohatare, Pranali Burade (both Track Star Athleitcs Club, Nagpur), Sapana Walda (Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education, Nagpur), Deeksha Borsare (Udaan Sports Academy, Kodamendi), Vidhi Parihar (HTKBS, Hingana).
Under-18 boys: Vedant Patle (Jai Athletics Club, Nagpur), Bhavesh Khandar (Shakuntala Sports Foundation, Wanadongari).
Under-16 boys: Sahil Lahane, Sujal Potbhare (both Black Bird Flyers, Nagpur).
Under-16 girls: Shreya Kirmore (Track Star Athletics Club, Nagpur), Tejaswini Salam (HTKBS, Hingana).
