<p>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.<br /><br />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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /></p>
<p>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.<br /><br />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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /></p>
