Arokia hits season best, Tajinder breaks meet mark
Tamil Nadu’s Arokia Rajiv, the Asian Games bronze medallist, clocked a season-best 46.13s as he won the men’s 400m at the 27th G. Kosanov memorial athletics meet at Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday evening.
Published : Jun 25, 2017 00:20 IST
Tamil Nadu’s Arokia Rajiv, the Asian Games bronze medallist, clocked a season-best 46.13s as he won the men’s 400m at the 27th G. Kosanov memorial athletics meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday evening.
But it was not anywhere close to the entry standard (45.50s) for this August’s London Worlds.
“I had hoped to qualify for the Worlds from here, but heavy rain and gusty winds spoiled the show,” Arokia, the former national record holder, told The Hindu on Saturday night. “The wind was particularly heavy during the third 100, it was pushing me back.”
Karnataka’s M.R. Poovamma, the Asian Championship silver medallist, won the women’s 400m but under heavy rain she clocked a rather slow 53.26s. Poovamma, also the Asian Games bronze medallist, has clocked four faster times this year with a best of 52.66 which came at the Indian Grand Prix last month.
Meanwhile Kerala’s young Jisna Mathew (season best 52.65), running in the last lane, was third in 53.70.
Dutee’s 11.53
None of the Indians in the opening day’s action today made the cut for the Worlds though Tajinderpal Singh Toor broke the meet record while winning the men’s shot put with a 20.01m effort. For Tajinder, who is on a high this season after a personal best 20.40m in the recent Federation Cup in Patiala, it was his second 20-plus throw this month.
Odisha’s Dutee Chand, the national record holder with a season-best 11.30s, clocked 11.53s for the women’s 100m silver while Kerala’s Merlin Joseph was fifth with 11.72. Kerala’s N.V. Sheena was fourth in women’s triple jump with 12.92m.
- Men: 400m: 1. Arokia Rajiv (46.13s).
- Triple jump: 1. Arpinder Singh (16.32m).
- Shot put: 1. Tajinderpal Singh Toor (20.01, MR, OR 19.92).
- Women: 100m: 2. Dutee Chand (11.53s), 5. Merlin Joseph (11.72).
- 400m: 1. M.R. Poovamma (53.26s), 3. Jisna Mathew (53.70).
- 4x100m relay: 2. India (Srabani Nanda, Reena George, Merlin Joseph, Dutee Chand, 45.41s).
- Triple jump: 4. N.V. Sheena (12.92m).