SAF athletics event postponed

New Delhi: South Asian Junior Athletics Championships, scheduled in Chennai on December 11 and 12, has

been postponed even after athletes from a participating country had arrived in the southern city. Athletics Federation of India today said the postponement was "due to certain unavoidable circumstances" but sources confirmed that it was done as some participating countries have expressed inability to send their athletes for the event. "Fresh dates will be intimated later on after consulting SAF Competition Committee," AFI said in a statement. When contacted, an AFI official said some countries want to postpone the championships because their athletes were having examinations. Ironically, AFI vice-president and Tamil Nadu association president W I Devaram had announced on December 5 that eight nations have confirmed their participation for the regional under-20 event. He had said that 250 athletes would participate in the championships and 10 from Maldives have already reached Chennai. India were to be represented by 33 boys and girls -- all the medal winners in the recently concluded National junior meet in Warangal. PTI