HIMA DAS WINS GOLD AT FEDERATION CUP
CLOCKS 52.88 SECONDS BUT NARROWLY MISSES ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP MARK
PATIALA: Assam’s sprint sensation Hima Das gave a befitting reply to her critics, who had written her off following a mediocre showing of 55sec in 400m at the Indian Grand Prix at Sangrur earlier this month. She clinched gold with a time of 52.88 sec, on the concluding day of the Federation Cup here on Monday.
Another Jakarta Asian Games show-stopper, heptathlete Swapna Barman, who has six digits on both feet, too came up with a superb show to clinch gold, sporting her new customised shoes. Odisha sprinter Dutee Chand emerged the fastest woman runner of the meet, clocking 11.48 sec to score a double in the domestic competition. She had earlier won 200m gold. Her performance, though, was .08 sec slower than Doha Asian Championships qualifying time.
Punjab’s Gurinder Vir Singh emerged the fastest athlete of the meet, clocking 10.35 sec.
Hima’s success was tinged with disappointment as she narrowly missed the Doha Asian Championships qualification mark of 52.75 sec, but she still has a chance of making the grade in trials.
The Jakarta Asian Games silver medallist in 400m had to dig deep into her reserves to breast the tape ahead of experienced runners such as Karnataka’s MR Poovamma, and the effort left the 19-year-old gasping for breath.
Her performance though was far below her personal best of 50.79 ses clocked in Jakarta, but satisfying though, considering that she had missed several training sessions in February to appear for her Class 12 Board exams in Guwahati. “When I clocked 55 sec in the Indian Grand Prix earlier this month, a lot of people back home started questioning my commitment, some even dismissing me as a one or two-race wonder. It hurt badly. I wasn’t prepared for the race, but just to prove my critics wrong I gave it all I had today,” Hima said.
“I couldn’t train for four-five weeks; just routine exercises but no hard yards. That’s why the timing in my first race (Indian Grand Prix) after the Asian Games in August was disappointing,’’ she said. Hima pleaded with the gathering on Monday to be a bit sympathetic towards her. “I
have been doing a lot of hard work but off-field issues impact performance,” she said.
There was drama before the race as the starter’s gun didn’t go off twice. But the World U-20 champion in 400m said, “I didn’t pay attention and remained focused. I won’t like to comment on that (misfiring gun).”
Hima, as always, had a slow start and, at 200m mark it seemed a podium finish would elude her as she was placed fourth. But she shifted gears at the last bend and crossed the finish line ahead of the more experienced quartermiler MR Poovamma, who timed 53.15 sec. Gujarat’s Saritaben Gayakwad was third in 53.28 sec.
Kerala’s 20-year-old Jisna Mathew, coached by PT Usha, had a good start and was in contention till the 300m mark, but faded away to fifth in 53.34 sec.
After the race, Hima seemed in visible pain and sought help from a physiotherapist. “I’m suffering from lower-back pain for the last three months, and I aggravated it during the race. Due to a busy schedule, I couldn’t seek treatment in November as I had to go to Turkey for training. On my return in February, I got busy with exams. But now (recovery) will be my priority,’’ she added.
SWAPNA QUALIFIES
Asian Games champion in heptathlon Swapna Barman booked a Doha Asian Championships ticket, amassing 5,900 points, 100 points more than the qualification mark. Kerala’s Jinson Johnson overcame a calf injury to clock 3:41.47 in 1500m to also secure a Doha berth.
“’I’m satisfied as it’s the first race of the season for me,” said Johnson, who skipped the Indian Grand Prix due to injury.
In men’s 3000m steeplechase, Army’s Avinash Sable clocked 8:28.94 sec, improving on his national record of 8:29.80 set last year in Bhubaneswar. His performance too fetched him a berth in the Asian Championships squad, along with Shankar Lal Swami who timed 8:34.66. The qualifying time was 8:35.00.
The men’s quartermile race was even more exciting as Tamil Nadu’s Rajiv Arokia outsprinted national record holder and Jakarta Asian Games silver medallist Muhammad Anas to clinch gold, clocking 45.73 sec, which was better than the qualifying time of 45.85.