National medalist Arjun Tudu will lead a 19-member East Singhbhum district team in the 12th Jharkhand State Cross Country Championship, the squad announced on Thursday.

The event will be held in Deogarh on January 31.

Tudu was picked on the basis of performance of athletes during the District Cross Country Championship, which was conducted at Jaipal ground in Karandih locality of Jamshedpur on January 2.

Other than Tudu, male athletes including Manish Hansda, Ravi Murmu, Vivek Kumar, Anmol Bhandari, Ajay Yadav and Prince Kumar have been selected in the 10-km event.

Chandni Gope is the lone women candidate in the category.

The boys’ Under-20 side for eight kilometre run include Chutai Majhi, Mirjai Murmu, Shankar Mardi, Brijmohan Gope, Rahul Kumar, while boys in the Under-18 age section for 6 km event are Lakhan Soren and Sawan Hansda.

Jamuna Soren will run in the six kilometre event for Under-18 girls’, while Sahil Mardi and Santosh Soren will try to prove their mettle in the two kilometre run for Under-16 boys. Nikita Kanduliya will compete in the two kilometre event for Under-16 girls.

The distinct outfit will leave for Deogarh by Tata-Danapur special train on January 30, said East Singhbhum District Athletics Association (ESDAA) secretary Ravinder Murmu.

“Despite the lackings (poor condition of the Jaipal ground), we have tried our best to select a good team. We have some talented athletes who are expected to shine in the state meet,” Murmu said.

The participants displayed great enthusiasm during the district cross country championship, he added.