JOIN USSarita, Siva set new national records
Subramanium Siva in pole vault and Sarita Singh in hammer throw created national records en route to gold medals on the opening day of Federation Cup at the NIS ground here on Thursday.
In the men’s pole vault that stretched late into the night, the 20-year-old Siva from Tamil Nadu cleared 5.14 metres to better the record of 5.13 set by K P Bimin of Kerala at Jabalpur in 2012.
Siva, who notched his previous best of 4.90M during the 2016 Inter-State championships in Hyderabad, pushed Haryana’s Anuj (4.90M) and state-mate Krishna Prasad (4.90M) to second and third spots.
The national record of 5.10 set by Vijay Pal Singh had stood from 1987 before Bimin bettered it in 2012.
Uttar Pradesh’s Sarita smashed the national record in women’s hammer throw by registering 65.25 metres, erasing the mark of 62.74 set by Manju Bala in 2014. The 27-year-old, who trains with Subhdeep Singh Mann here, had achieved her previous best of 61.81 in the previous edition in New Delhi last year. Gunjan Singh (61.95) and Nidhi Kumari (57.99), also from Uttar Pradesh, took the silver and bronze medals.
Sarita, whose speed is considered to be her strength, threw consistently above 60 metres in her five attempts. Her lowest mark was 61.95. She was hopeful of an even better performance in the upcoming Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar in July, and come near the World Championships norm of 71.00.
In women’s high jump, Karnataka’s Sahana Kumari took the gold clearing 1.76 metres, winning the event on a countback. There were two silver medallists in the contest, with Karnataka’s K C Chandana and Jyoti of Haryana also clearing 1.76 metres.
Kerala’s Anu Raghavan set a meet record to win the women’s 400M hurdles in 57.39 seconds, a personal best. She beat the seasoned Jauna Murmu, who clocked 57.51s, her best since the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010. Karnataka’s M Arpitha took the bronze in 57. 64 seconds.
Manpreet Kaur won the women’s shot put gold though she was far from happy. Her 17.04 metres was a new meet record but Manpreet, who had represented India in the Rio Olympics, expected a better result. She had finished significantly ahead of Ramanpreet Kaur (14.90M) and Anamika Das (14.67M).
A couple of months ago, the Haryana shotputter had thrown 18.86 meters in the first leg of the Asian Grand Prix in China to briefly grab the World No 1 ranking and qualify for the World Championships in London. “I am not at all happy. I had been regularly doing 18-plus during training. I will be taking the help of a psychologist soon,” Manpreet said.
Results: Men: 5000M: G Lakshmanan (TN) 14:02.90, 1; Murli Kumar Gavit (Guj) 14:05.04, 2; Suresh Kumar (UK) 14:06.11, 3.
400M hurdles: Jabir MP (Ker) 50.47, 1; Santhosh Kumar (TN) 50.68, 2, Durgesh Kumar Pal (UK) 51.04, 3.
Pole vault: Subramanium Siva (Tamil Nadu) 5.14M (National record. Old: 5.13, K P Bimin) 1; Anuj (Haryana) 4.90, 2; Krishna Prasad (Tamil Nadu) 4.90, 3.
Women: 5000M: L Suriya (TN) 15:54.78, 1; Sanjivani Jadhav (Mah) 15:59.54, 2; Monika Athare (Mah) 16:44.16, 3.
400M hurdles: Anu Raghavan (Ker) 57.39, 1; Jauna Murmu (Odi) 57.51, 2; M Arpitha (Kar) 57.64, 3.
High jump: Sahana Kumari (Kar) 1.76 metres, 1; KC Chandana (Kar) and Jyoti (Har), 1.76M, 2.
Shot put: Manpreet Kaur (Har) 17.04M, 1; Ramanpreet Kaur (Pun) 14.90M, 2; Anamika Das (WB) 14.67M, 3.
Hammer throw: Sarita Singh (UP) 65.25 metres (National record. Old: 62.74, Manju Bala, 2014), 1; Gunjan Singh (UP) 61.95M, 2; Nidhi Kumari (UP) 57.99M, 3.