Siddhanth wins but misses Rio time

Siddhanth's time of 13.66s was slower than the Rio Olympics qualification standard of 13.47s.

A file picture of Siddhanth Thingalaya.

National record holder Siddhanth Thingalaya defeated Australia’s former world junior silver medallist Nicholas Hough and won the men’s 110m hurdles at the Lotto de Nivelles international athletics meet at Nivelles, Belgium, on Saturday. However, his time of 13.66s was slower than the Rio Olympics qualification standard of 13.47s.

Siddhanth had broken his own national record last week clocking 13.54s at Arizona, U.S., and the Nivelles event marked the opening leg of his European tour.

Meanwhile, Sajeesh Joseph was fourth in the men’s 800m with 1:53.45s (Rio entry time 1:46.00) while former Asian champion Sini A. Markose (formerly Sinimol Paulose) was eighth in the women’s two-lapper in 2:05.38s (Oly. qual. 2:01.50).

The athletes have time till July 11 to clock the qualification standard for the Rio Olympics.