The World Athletics association has revised the timeline for Tokyo Olympics Qualification.
According to World Athletics, the qualification period for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is suspended effective from 6 April 2020 until 30 November 2020.
Subject to the global situation returning to normal, the qualification period will resume on 1 December 2020 and continue to the new qualification deadline in 2021. The total qualification period, which started in 2019, will be four months longer than it was originally proposed.
Athletes who have already met the entry standard since the start of the qualification period in 2019 remain qualified and will be eligible for selection by their respective Member Federations and National Olympic Committees, together with the other athletes who will qualify within the extended qualification period. The end of the Olympic qualification periods are 31 May 2021 (for 50km race walk and marathon) and 29 June 2021 for all other events.
Qualification starting dates for entry standards and world rankings remain unchanged with many athletes already qualified by meeting the entry standards during 2019. With the qualification period from 1 December 2020 to 31 May 2021 (or 29 June 2021 depending on the event) the eligible qualification period (taking into account the eight-month suspension period) is longer than the original period by an additional four months.
Here is the new timeline:
| Events | Entry standards period | World rankings period |
| Marathon, 50km race walk | 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 31 May 2021 21 months | 1 December 2018 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 31 May 2021 22 months |
| 10,000m, 20km race walk, combined events | 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021 22 months | 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021 22 months |
| All other events | 1 May 2019 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021 18 months | 30 June 2019 – 5 April 2020 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021 16 months |
Indian Athletics Team for Tokyo Olympics:
It is to be noted that India has already achieved 5 quotas in athletics for Tokyo Olympics: KT Irfan in 20 Km walk, Avinash Sable in Men’s 3000m steeplechase, Mixed 4 X 400m relay team, Bhawna Jat in Women’s 20 km Race Walk, Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in Men’s Javelin throw.
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