Karan disputes comments by Rodan Jr that he did not meet qualifying time for Pacific Games

Yeshnil Karan has disputed the comments made by Team Fiji Athletics Sectional Manager for the Pacific Games, Joseph Rodan Jnr, that he did not meet the qualifying times for the Pacific Games.

Ashneel Nand, a teacher who spoke on behalf of Karan this morning at the 2019 Munro Leys Suva Challenge says they were informed that Karan clocked 4 minutes 9 seconds when he ran in the 1,500 metres event in the Coca Cola Games which is the qualifying B Standard time.

[Photo: Sharmila Lata Facebook]

Nand says Rodan had highlighted that the athletes need to qualify under the A or B Standard Qualifying Marks and Karan did not qualify under either standard.

He says the B Standard time is 4 minutes 9 seconds and that was the exact time Karan ran.

[Photo: ridiqiulas photography Facebook]

He says the time highlighted by Rodan is incorrect which was 4 minutes 19 seconds.

Nand says they have informed Karan not to be disheartened and they will continue to train Karan so that one day he can represent Fiji.

When questioned by FijiVillage this morning on his earlier comments of Karan not making the qualifying times for the Pacific Games, Joseph Rodan Jnr corrected himself and highlighted that Karan did in fact run the 1500 meters event with a time of 4 minutes 9 seconds adding that the B Grade Qualifying time is 4 minutes 03 seconds while the A Grade Qualifying time is 3 minutes 58 seconds.

Karan won gold in the 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres events in the Coca‑Cola Games last month defeating national rep, Petero Veitaqomaki.

When also questioned whether this is a personal issue that an upcoming athlete who made the time is not being selected to represent Fiji, Rodan stresses that it is not.

Rodan says the final national trials for the Pacific Games was held prior to the Coca-Cola Games and the Easter Games and the athletes who had qualified had already been selected.

Yeshnil Karan and teacher Ashneel Nand

Rodan also clarified that Petero Veitaqomaki who was beaten by Karan in the 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres events in the Coca‑Cola Games is representing Fiji in the 800 metres and 4x400 metres relay in the Pacific Games.

He says that many have questioned why Veitaqomaki was picked to go to the Pacific Games however Rodan says Veitaqomaki currently holds the fastest time in the region in the 800 metres with a time of 1 minute 53 seconds.

A total of 453 athletes have been named to represent Team Fiji in 26 sporting events in the Pacific Games that will be held in Samoa from the 7th to the 20th of July.

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