Karnataka bags two medals in Federation Cup

Mangaluru: As the national-level athletic meet, Federation Cup (FC) came to the end of the first day, there was something to cheer for Karnataka and Mangalurians with Sahana Kumari bagging a gold medal in High Jump. However many other events lost their  sheen as enrolled participants were absent.

It appeared, Sahana Kumari who was present at the medal awarding ceremony, had wept in solitude before arriving. This was evident from her body language. “I was not able to make it this time to the Asian Games,†rued Sahana to scribes. Sahana stamped her victory over Mallika Mondal (Silver) of West Bengal and Steny Micheal of Kerala (Bronze).

Sahana speaking to press persons, said that the absence of coaches from past two years affected her performance. “I was not able to break my current national record of 1.92mâ€. To make it to the big event she had to cross 1.80m.

At the Federation Cup Sahana recorded a jump 1.76m, while Mallika pegged at 1.73 and Steny could finish at 1.70m. It could be observed that the margin of victory for Sahana was just 0.3m. Sahana urged the government to encourage her passion for High Jump sport by providing a coach to rejig her declining career.

The day which began with 5000 mts race for men and women ended with 800 m  race (heats).

In many event finals that were held before Friday dusk, participants registered went absent. In 5000m running race, nine athletes did not turn up, while in women category number was one. Three women high jumpers failed to attend the event, while three did not take part in women’s Javelin Throw. Sadly in women’s Pole Vault  and Discus Throw, there was literally no competition, with only a single participant in pole vault and two in Discuss Throw.

Two female athletes from Karnataka, Shahejhali (Javelin Throw) and Sahana won Silver and Gold thus leaving Mangalurians something to cheer with for the day. The Preliminary rounds generally termed as heats for 800m run (men and women category), 100m run (women) and 400 m (men and women) were also conducted on the same day.

Results

Javelin Throw

Suman Devi (UP)   –    Gold   –   54.07m

Shahejhali (KA)    – Silver-   49.47m

RupinderKaur (PUNJAB) – Browze- 48.48m

Women’s 5000m Run

16. Surya (TN) – Gold – 16.55.90

Chitra P U (KER) – Silver – 16.56.29

Pariti Lamba(MH)- Bronze – 16.56.51

Men’s 5000m Run

G Laxmanan (ARMY) – Gold – 13.58.40

Gopi T   (ARMY) – Silver – 14.03.17

Suresh Kumar (ONGC) – Bronze – 14.03.28

Women’s High Jump

Sahana Kumari (KA)    – Gold   –   1.76m

Mallika Mondal (WB) – Silver     – 1.73m

Steny Micheal (KER) – Bronze – 1.70m