Steeplechaser Lalita Babbar set for Asian Games with gold

Lalita Babbar of Maharashtra kept enough strength for a late burst as she pipped 2010 Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh to second spot and virtually sealed a place in the Indian team for next month’s Asiad on the third and penultimate day of the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships here today. Babbar clocked a creditable 9:52.34 to win gold under humid conditions at the NIS tracks here, while Uttar Pradesh’s Sudha was second with a timing of 9:53.54. Both Babbar and Sudha trains under Belarussian coach Nikolai Snesarev. [caption id=“attachment_1669651” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. Getty[/caption] The women’s 3000m steeplechase race was the top draw of the day as both Babbar and national record holder Sudha ran below sub-10 minute and bettered the meet mark of 10:13.83. The earlier meet mark was in the name of Sudha, whose national record stands at 9:45.60. Both Babbar and Sudha also bettered the Asian Games qualifying standard of 10:05.60, set by the Athletics Federation of India. Nikhil Chittrasu of Tamil Nadu set a new meet mark in men’s high jump while winning gold with an effort of 2.21m. His effort bettered AFI’s Asian Games qualifying standard of 2.19m. His state-mate Yogaraj was second with an effort of 2.19m, while Jithin Thomas of Kerala was third with 2.16m. In women’s triple jump, M A Prajusha of Kerala bagged the gold with an effort of 13.39m, the same as the AFI qualifying standard, while national record holder Mayookha Johny was third with 13.34m. N V Sheena bagged the silver with 13.34m. The third meet mark of the day came from Uttar Pradesh’s Annu Rani, who won gold in women’s javelin throw with an effort of 58.00m, while Suman Devi and Rupinder Kaur were second and third with 54.72m and 47.01m, respectively. Annu Rani, who also holds the national record of 58.83m, virtually booked a ticket for the Asian Games, as her effort was better than the AFI qualifying standard of 56.84m. The earlier meet mark of 56.11m was in the name of Suman Devi. V Sureka of Tamil Nadu came up with the fourth meet mark of the day as she won gold in women’s pole vault with an effort of 4:05m. PTI