The Athletics Federation of India’s plans to start a separate national championships for 400 metres races received a jolt as the event, scheduled to start on October 22, has to be deferred due to lack of entries, reported PTI. The planned championships in various age groups was to be held in Dharamshala on October 22 and 23.

“...due to insufficient entries received till date, this Championships has been postponed and hence will not be held on 22nd and 23rd October 2017 at Dharamshala,” the AFI said in a statement. “The fresh dates of this Championships, if considered necessary, will be notified later. The inconvenience caused to the athletes is regretted,” it added.
The championship was to be held for senior men and women, under-20 (Boys and Girls), under-18 (Boys and Girls), under-16 (Boys and Girls above 14 years). The main aim of conducting the championships was to have more depth in 400m like in the case of race walk event which has a separate national meet and to identify talented athletes for the Commonwealth Games/Asian Games and 2020 Olympic Games.