JOIN USIn Asian Championship history, India has a rich tradition in the women’s 400 metres, the country’s athletes having won the event seven times in the past.
The likes of P T Usha and Shiny Wilson have lent sheen to the event in the past and when the 20th edition of the championships get underway here on Wednesday, M R Poovamma will attempt to follow in their footsteps.
The 23-year-old from Mangalore is among India’s gold medal hopes here, rising to the top after a clutch of impressive performances over the last couple of years. She is second on the Asian lists this season but among the entries here, the Indian is the best with her 52.75 at the Federation Cup in April.
“I am looking forward to the event; I am in good form and have trained very hard. Hopefully I can win the gold here,” said Poovamma after a training session at the Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex.
Poovamma dominated the Asian Grand Prix series this year, sweeping all the three competitions in Bangkok, Chonburi and Colombo. She said the wins had boosted her confidence but her main aim remained the top spot here for more than one reason.
“I want to qualify for the World Championships. For that, I have to clock either 52.35 or win the event. Hopefully, I can do that here,” she said.
All the winners of the continental championships get automatic entries for the World Championships, irrespective of their performances.
Poovamma also has happy memories of the track here. In 2008, she won the silver at the Commonwealth Youth Games after a gritty come-from-behind performance. “I was way behind and thought I didn’t have a chance. But I fought and fought and got the silver,” she said.
Those memories will certainly add a spring in her strides as she gets down to the business, with the heats scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Fitness worries
Mayookha Johny, the defending champion in long jump, is likely to pull out of the triple jump event, because of an ankle sprain, according to her coach Syam Kumar.
Mayookha sprained her right ankle during training a few days back and while she is expected to compete in the long jump, she may opt out of the triple jump.
Meanwhile, Kavita Raut has pulled out of the event due to personal reasons. Kavita was originally entered in the 5000M but India have drafted in O P Jaisha in her place, along with Preeja Sreedharan and Suriya Loganathan.