Date:16/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/16/stories/2008101653981900.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Poovamma picks up silver in 400m

Special Correspondent

PUNE: Zambian sisters Rachael Nachula and Rebecca Nachula, stocky and muscular, bounded down the track on the turn for home in the women’s 400m final in the CYG 2008 athletics event.

Sandwiched between these African strongwomen, lane four and seven respectively, wiry Poovamma M.R. ran in her own world, fighting demons in the mind and feeling of fatigue cramping her legs, willed her body forward as de-celeration crept in like the evening shadow on the runners.

Rachael was a blur in her line of vision, a clear winner in 52.97. The Indian crept up from fifth to second position with a lung-bursting effort over the last 50 metres, seeking to wipe out memories of a sluggish 200m in the first half of the race where Rebecca had set a hot pace, eventually pipped by Poovamma at the tape for the second spot (55.17). Rebecca and Canada’s Shela Johnson were both timed at 55.20, the photo-finish separately the silver and bronze medallists.

Reason to celebrate

India’s women’s 4x100 squad gave coach Suresh Babu a reason to celebrate by setting a Games record 46.27 seconds Nirupama Sundaraj and Bhagyashree Shirke handed over the baton to Shravani Nanda, whose burst gave anchor runner Gayathri Govindharaj the impetus to beat Australia (46.74) to the tape and grab the gold. Canada (46.83) finished third.

“I gave it everything over the last 50m,” quipped the 18-year-old, relieved at winning a medal from a point when all seemed lost. The chunky Zambian has been fighting the odds all through her life, grabbing at rare opportunities life has to offer.The CYG 400m winner clocked a personal best 52.21 at the Namibia GP for a place on the national squad for Beijing Olympics, qualified for women’s semifinal (52.67) and is also the recipient of a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Medal hopes dashed

Indian medal hopes suffered a jolt when women’s long jumper Aishwarya G.M. injured her right knee on landing, attempting the third jump. She was taken to a medical centre to have the leg x-rayed, the accident costing her a probable medal. The results (all finals): Men: 400m: 1. James Kirani (Grn) 46.66s, 2. Elvis Ukale (Nig) 47.16, 3. Jordan McGrath (Eng) 47.26; Discus: 1. Julian Wruck (Aus) 60.88m, 2. Curtis Griffith (Eng) 55.35, 3. Arjun Kumar (Ind) 52.02. : 1500: 1. Jonathan Ndiku (Ken) 3:45.96, 2. Alex Cherop (Uga) 3:48.41, 3. Cylof Jonas (SA) 3:48.41.

Women: 400m: 1. Rachael Nachula (Zam) 52.97s, 2. Poovamma M R (Ind) 55.17, 3. Rebecca Nachula (Zam) 55.20; high jump: 1. Elizabeth Lamb (NZ) 1.79m, 2. Molly Grant (Aus) 1.74, 3. Norliyana Bintu (Mal) 1.71. ; long jump: 1. Abigail Irozuru (Eng) 5.92m, 2. Hannah Lewis (Ire) 5.85, 3. Mariah Ririnui (NZ) 5.82. .

Hammer throw: 1. Sophie Nitchon (Eng) 58.43m, 2. Catharina Badenhorst (SA) 50.92, 3. Ashleigh Mumberson (Aus) 50.87. ; shot put: 1. Julia Labonte (Can) 16.02m, 2. Lamataimi Lolo (Aus) 14.73, 3. Margaret Satupai (Sam) 14.24. .

1500: 1. Stacy Ndiwa (Ken) 4:20.16, 2. Anne Parry (Can) 4:20.59, 3. Clara Mageean (Ire) 4:22.53.

Corrections and Clarifications

In "Poovamma picks up silver in 400m" (Sport, October 16) a sentence says "Rebecca and Canada's Shela Johnson were both timed at 55.20, the photo-finish separating the silver and bronze medallists." It should have been for the third and fourth positions.