Date:27/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/27/stories/2008052756221800.htm

Sport - Athletics

Three from State for Jakarta

BANGALORE: Three athletes from Karnataka will take part in the junior Asian Track & Field Championships in Jakarta from June 12 to 15.

G.M. Aishwarya, who created a new long jump meet record of 5.87m and erased the four-year-old mark of Kerala’s M.A. Prajusha (5.71m) in the junior Federation Cup and National youth athletics championship in Pune last weekend, will be making her maiden international appearance.

Pallavi Sukumar, who finished a close second to Aishwarya in Pune with an effort of 5.86m in her last attempt, too has qualified.

G.N. Bopanna, who finished second in the under-20 boys 200m clocking 22.40s, is the third athlete to make the grade from the State.

Nirupama Sunderra finished second best in the u-18 200m with a time of 25.42s, which was way ahead of the u-20 timings in the corresponding event.

But with Athletics Federation of India (AFI) setting 1989, 1990 and 1991 as the preferred year of birth for the athletes, Nirupama has been considered too young for this edition. — Special Correspondent