Mangalorean athlete Poovamma misses berth in World Championships by a whisker

Mangalorean athlete Poovamma misses berth in World Championships by a whisker

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 25, 2013: Mangalorean athlete MR Poovamma came up with a personal best of 52.75 secs in the 400m but that was not enough as she missed the World Championships qualification by 0.04 seconds on the second day of the Senior Federation Cup athletics held in Patiala on Wednesday. Her previous best was 52.94 set at the Asian GP in Bangkok last year.

The 22-year-old Machettira Raju Poovamma, who lives in Mangalore staved off a strong challenge from Kerala’s Anu Mariam Jose (53.88). Anju Thomas came third in 55.14.

 

Pleased at bettering her previous personal best of 52.94s set at the Asian Grand Prix last year, Poovamma said that she would be able to get the qualifying standard of 52.35s in the forthcoming international meets in Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Poovamma, trained by N. Ramesh, ran her race in the second half, as she was determined to improve on her time of 53.59 that she had clocked in the domestic Grand Prix earlier this month at the same venue.

“I expected a fight at least till 300 metres, but after 200 metres I got away,” said Poovamma who burst through in the final stretch.

Her coach said that Poovamma was shaping very well in training and would be getting better in the next three races of the Asian Grand Prix.