Tintu timed 2:02.58 seconds to finish ahead of Lithuania’s Egle Balciunaite and Melissa Bishop of Canada. But the win didn’t come in the same front-running style that the Indian athletics fans are so used to witnessing from the PT Usha ward over the last few seasons.
Even after the pace-maker left the fray, Tintu let the others dictate the pace with Egle, who has a personal best of 1:59.47, seemingly in control. The Indian then attacked with 200 metres left and surged ahead in the final few metres before sealing the top spot, taking home a cheque for 5000 Swedish Kroner (Rs 35,000 approximately).
The Indian champion has a personal best of 1:59.17 set at the Continental Cup in Split, Croatia, last year and Usha felt she could dip under the two-minute barrier again soon, with her next competition scheduled at Amsterdam.
The other Indian in action at Karstad, Ghamanda Ram, ended fifth in the men’s 800 metres won by Mukhtar Muhammad of Britain in 1:45.90. Ghamanda, who is targeting an Olympic qualification, timed a respectable 1:47.25. He had won the Asian Championship bronze medal last month in Kobe, Japan, clocking a personal best of 1:46.46.