Ashwini on song with sparkling display

Ashwini on song with sparkling display

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jun 13: The entire nation was in awe of Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji’s power and pace last season when she delivered gold-winning performances at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her home state, though had not seen the best of Ashwini in person and on Sunday, the Udupi athlete revealed a glimpse of her prowess, delighting the sparse gathering at the Sree Kanteerava stadium.

 

The women’s 400M final at the 51st Inter-State Athletics Championships was Ashwini’s first race of the year, having spent the best part of the last six months recovering from a wrist injury sustained in training. The rustiness was evident but that didn’t prevent her from cruising to the gold medal, lighting up the second day of the event which also witnessed a national record in decathlon by Bharat Inder Singh of Haryana.

Ashwini won in 52.82 seconds, the best by an Indian this season and also her personal best, igniting fresh hopes for the country in terms of a gold medal at the Asian Championships next month. The 23-year-old was always in control of the race and her dash pulled rivals Mandeep Kaur of Punjab and Jauna Murmu of Orissa under 54 seconds for the first time this season.

“Happy to be back, it’s nice to win at home,” said Ashwini, who had run a 53.57 in the semifinals on Saturday to show she was back in the hunt. In the final, Ashwini waited to pounce even as Murmu and Mandeep set the pace early.

The Karnataka runner made rapid ground nearing the 200M mark and by the time she came into the straight, she was in the lead, with Mandeep in hot pursuit. But there was no catching Ashwini, even though she tightened up in the final twenty metres. Mandeep claimed silver in 53.21 while Murmu’s bronze came in 53.81.