Gurcharan strikes blow for India

Beenamol, on the other hand, found herself completely out-raced and outclassed in the company of the world8217;s best, though she did try to go all out in the first 250 metres in the second semi-final. However, she looked to have run out of steam on the home stretch and eventually found herself at the rear end.

There was more dismal news from the women8217;s heptathlon, where Pramila Gudandda Ganapathy and Soma Biswas finished 24th and 25th respectively in a pack of 27 athletes. Pramila notched 5548 points while Soma collected 5481. The gulf between them and the best can be gauged from the fact that the winner, Britain8217;s Denise Lewis, scored 6584 points.

And there was another true Olympic hero today in the Marathon. Aguida Amaral never won a medal, she clocked in 47 minutes behind the winner, but she received as loud a cheer. Just because she took part. Because, just a few months ago, the 28-year-old wife and mother was training barefoot in the streets of Dili, the capital of war-torn East Timor.

But the day8217;s loudest cheer at Stadium Australia was reserved for local favourite Cathy Freeman who ignored pouring rain to cruise into the final of the 400 metres event. Freeman, who8217;s tipped to be the first Aboriginal to win an individual Olympic gold, still has to contend with tomorrow night8217;s final, however, and Britain8217;s Katharine Merry will be looking to spoil the planned Australian party.