Hima Das trails in at 4th spot at Sangrur Grand Prix
NEW DELHI: Young quartermiler Hima Das’ trademark finishing kick was missing as she strolled home at 55.19 secs to come in fourth in her season opening 400m in the third leg of the Indian Grand Prix series held in Sangrur, Punjab.
The national record holder was expected to dominate, but she didn’t shift gears on the home straight to allow her rivals to take control. Kerala’s VK Vismaya, a member of the national 4x400m relay squad that won the Asian Games gold, won at 53.80 secs while Karnataka’s experienced MR Poovamma was second at 54.06 secs. Prachi of Uttar Pradesh clocked 54.49 for third place.
Hima Das had an outstanding 2018 season as the teenager from Assam won the World U-20 title, going on to claim silver at the Jakarta Asian Games, clocking a national best of 50.79 secs in the final. To stay in contention for 400m at the Asian Championship to held in April, it is vital Hima shifts gear during the Federation Cup meet, to be held at Patiala on March 15.
In men’s 400m, national record holder Muhammad Anas, still not fully recovered from a foot injury, came in behind Arokia Rajiv – winner of the New Delhi leg – but clocked 46.60 secs to be second in this season’s first race. Rajiv won at 46.32 secs, maintaining his consistency.
National long jump recordholder M Sreeshankar of Kerala had a disappointing start to the season as he produced a best of only 7.74m. His personal best and national record is 8.20m, set last year at a domestic meet in Bhubaneswar. Asian Games 800m champion Manjeet Singh was edged out by Md Afsal. Afsal won the slow race at 1:49.48 secs with Manjeet clocking 1:49.82.
The men’s shot put saw Haryana’s Inderjeet Singh make a comeback to win gold with an effort of 18.94m. The international thrower was exonerated by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) Appeals panel in December. He had failed an out-of-competition test for banned substances Androsterone and Eticholanalone in June 2016 and missed the Rio Olympic Games.
Like the Delhi leg, the Sangrur leg also saw poor participation in almost all events. The fourth and final leg will be held in Panchkula, Haryana on March 6.
THE NATIONAL RECORD HOLDER WAS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE, BUT SHE DIDN’T SHIFT GEARS ON THE HOME STRAIGHT