New Delhi: It will be a turning point for Indian athletics if Tintu Luka can impress in the 800 metres event on Friday at the 2014 athletics season’s opener at the IAAF Diamond League at Doha, Qatar. The current Asian champion and the 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist is India’s lone entry at the prestigious meet.

The 24-year-old Indian star is expected to face tough competition in the race. Out of 11 athletes in the fray in the 800 metres event at Doha, six of them have the calibre to finish the race under 2 minutes, while four of them have clocked better timing than Luka, who was a semi-finalists at 2012 Olympics. World Championship gold medallist Eunice Sum and the 2008 Olympics silver medallist Janet Jepkosegei are tipped to be the favourites in the Doha 800 metres race.

However, Luka’s coach, the legendary and indomitable PT Usha is unfazed and seems quite confident about her protégé’s chances. The former ‘Sprint Queen’ said from Doha, “She (Tintu) has been training well and we hope she will impress in the company of world-class athletes. I hope it will inspire her to do her best.”

Usha said performing in the 2014 Commonwealth and Asian Games is on their radar and it would be great if Doha turns out to be a great launching platform for the season. “We are aiming to participate in the European circuits as well as it will give Tintu a decent chance to acclimatise for Glasgow (Commonwealth Games).”