Mixed day for India in athletics

Gold Coast, April 9: It was a mixed day for India in the athletics events as high jumper Tejaswin Shankar and sprinter Muhammed As entered the fils, while Hima Das advanced to the semi-fils. There were disappointments too, with Suriya Logathan and shotputter Tejinder Pal Singh failing to make their mark at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Monday.

Shankar entered the fil of the men’s high jump event with a best attempt of 2.21 metres, thus meeting the qualifying standard of 2.27m. He finished the qualification stage at the joint fifth spot.

Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas topped the qualification stage.

Sprinter As entered the fil of the men’s 400 metre event, finishing first in the semifil, heat 3, clocking 45.44 sec with a reaction time of 0.132 ahead of Jamaica’s Rusheen Mcdold. Mcdold finished 45.77 with a reaction time of 0.180 at the Carrara Stadium here.

As, on Sunday, advanced to the semi-fils after winning Heat 4. He registered a time of 45.96 seconds ahead of Mcdold’s 45.99.

Women sprinter Suriya Logathan finished outside of the medals in the women’s 10,000m fil, but had a persol best timing of 32:23.56. She finished at the 13th spot while Tejinder Pal Singh finished a disappointing eighth in the men’s shot put fil.

His best throw of 19.42 came in his third attempt, but it wasn’t enough to get him on to the podium. Cada’s Tim Nedow came up with his season best throw of 20.91 to take the bronze.

Sprinter Hima Das qualified for the semi-fils of the women’s 400 metre event registering a time of 52.11 seconds to finish third in Heat 5.

Yinka Ajayi of Nigeria clocked 51.71 seconds to win Heat 5 while Botswa’s Christine Botlogetswe finished second with 51.73.

Poovamma Raju, the other Indian in the fray, crashed out after finishing fifth in Heat 1.

Poovamma clocked 53.72 seconds to finish 0.175 seconds behind Botswa’s Amantle Montsho, who registered 51.20 to take the top spot in Heat 1.

Astasia Le-Roy of Jamaica clocked her season’s best time of 51.37 seconds to take the second spot.

The top four in each of the four heats earn a direct spot in the semi-fils while the next four fastest runners are also allowed to advance.

Poovamma’s timing was not enough to earn her a berth in the next stage.

Apart from Montsho and Le-Roy, third placed Emily Diamond (52.26) of England and Zambia’s Quincy Malekani (52.40) also entered the semi-fils from Heat 1. IANS

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