Babar breaks record, Sudha makes it to Rio

Sabi Hussain

New Delhi, April 29

Returning to the track after 18 months, Sudha Singh qualified for the Rio Olympics with a silver-medal finish in the women’s 3000m steeplechase on the second day of the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships here today.

Uttar Pradesh’s Sudha, who has already qualified for Rio in the marathon event, put up a strong show to better the Rio Games qualification mark of 9.45.00s with a timing of 9.31.86s. 

Lalita Babar, who has already qualified for the Olympics in both 3000m steeplechase and marathon, clocked 9.27.09 to win the gold. She smashed her own national record of 9.27.86s.

Sudha, who had last competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2014 Incheon Games, made a strong comeback to her favourite event after spending one-and-a-half years concentrating on long-distance running.

The fact that India’s middle and long-distance coach Nikolai Snarsev had earmarked the Federation Cup as the last tournament for her to qualify in steeplechase made the feat even more special for Sudha. Snarsev had told her that if she failed to qualify, she would have to concentrate solely on perfecting her long-distance running for the Rio.

“There was a lot of pressure on me to qualify in steeplechase. I knew this was my last chance. I am confident of putting up an improved show at Rio,” said Sudha, who won gold at the Guangzhou Asian Games. Tamil Nadu’s Rajiv Arokiya set the second national record of the day when he won the gold in the men’s 400m clocking 45.47secs. He, however, missed the Rio mark by just 0.07s. Haryana’s Krishna Poonia, who returned to the field after undergoing a knee operation, won the gold medal in discus throw with an effort of 55.09m. She also failed to secure an Olympics berth.

Results 

(MEN): (long jump): K Prem Kumar (RSPB) 7.88m 2 Ankit Sharma (HAR) 7.76m 3 Samsheer (KAR) 7.62m; (400m): 1 Rajiv Arokia (TN) 45.47 2 Muhammed Anas Yahiya (KER) 45.75 3 P Kunhumuhammed (Army) 46.08; (1500m): 1. Ajay Kumar Saroj (ONGC) 3:44.60; 2 Sandeep Singh (HAR) 3:45.86 3 Rahul Harveer Singh (DEL) 3:46.07; (3000m steeplechase): 1 Naveen Kumar (HAR) 8:55.04; 2 Durga Bahadur Budha (MANI) 9:01.91 3 Sachin Patil (MAH) 9:12.99; (WOMEN) (400m): 1 Anilda Thomas (KER) 52.40 2 MR Poovamma (ONGC) 52.60 3 Jauna Murmu (ONGC) 53.37