Indian name 17 lifters for AAG

The Indian Weightlifting Federation named a 15-member squad that would carry the host country's medal hopes at the upcoming Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.

The eight-member men's team and seven-member women's squad selected for the Games will strive to grab top honours in the competition.

According to sources in the Federation, the members of the men's squad include V Srinivasa Rao (56 kg; SSCB), Chandandeep Singh (62 kg; Police), C P R Sudheer Kumar (69 kg; SSCB), Satish Rai (77 kg; Bank Sports Board), Mohammed Zakir (85 kg; SSCB), G Sandeep (94 kg; Karnataka [ Images ]), Gurminder Singh (105 kg; Police) and Dalvir Singh (105 kg plus; Police).

But conspicuous by their absence are T Muthu, Vicky Bhatta and Sendhil Kumar.

Sources said the women's team comprises A Sandhya Rani (48 kg; Karnataka), Sonia Chanu (53 kg; Punjab [ Images ]), Prasmita Mangraj (58 kg; Orissa), P Haritha (63 kg; Andhra), Nansita Devi (69 kg; Manipur), Sumati Devi (75 kg; Manipur) and Geeta Rani (75 kg plus; Punjab).

While the men's team has been practising at the Sports Authority of India [ Images ], South Centre in Bangalore, under Chief Coach Jaswant Singh [ Images ] and coach Ramesh Malhotra, the women are working out in Patiala under Chief Coach B S Sandhu.

China, Taipei, Korea and Iran are some of the countries taking part in the mega event.